Dog resting on a vacation rental deck overlooking the Gulf at Cape San Blas

Can you bring a dog to the beach at Cape San Blas?

Yes

on a leash, at all times

Dogs are welcome on the Gulf County beaches at Cape San Blas, Indian Pass and Salinas Park, as long as they stay leashed. The one stretch of sand they cannot go on is inside St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

Leash

Always

State park beach

No dogs

Waste stations

20+

The rule

Leashed on the county beach. Off the sand in the state park.

Animals must remain on a leash at all times, it’s the law.

Gulf County Tourist Development Council, citing Gulf County Ordinance 2008-20

That covers the county beach at Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Salinas Park and St. Joe Beach. Gulf County has not published a maximum leash length for its beaches — the six-foot limit people quote is a Florida State Parks rule, and it applies inside the park, not on the county sand.

Waste: bag it and bin it. There are more than 20 pet waste stations with bags and receptacles at the public beach accesses. Don’t bury it — children dig where dogs go.

Where dogs can’t go

Four places on the cape that are off limits.

Everything else on the county beach is open to a leashed dog.

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park — the beach, the natural shoreline, picnic shelters, restrooms and the wilderness area

William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area

Eglin Air Force Base property on the elbow of the cape

Mexico Beach, twenty minutes east — dogs are banned from the beach entirely, except west of Canal Parkway

Inside the state park

Pets are welcome in the park. Just not on the beach.

Different jurisdiction, different rules — this is the part that catches people out.

Allowed in the day-use areas, on the trails, and in Shady Pines Campground — except sites 13 and 17

Six-foot hand-held leash, and well behaved at all times

Not allowed on the beach, the natural shoreline, in picnic shelters, restrooms or the wilderness area

Not allowed in the cabins or the cabin areas. Service animals are welcome with advance notice

More Cape San Blas rules

The other three, in the same shape.

Staying on Cape San Blas?

Rentals booked direct with the owner. No service fee.

Browse rentals

Official

Gulf County Tourist Development Council — pet friendly beaches Florida State Parks — St. Joseph Peninsula State Park pet policy

Rules and regulations change. This page is intended as a general overview to help you plan your trip and is not a substitute for reading the current official rules yourself. Laws, permit requirements, and enforcement can change at any time, and this content may not reflect the most current version. It is your responsibility to verify current rules directly with the relevant city, county, or State of Florida agency. Book Direct Forgotten Coast is not responsible for citations, fines, accidents, or other consequences resulting from reliance on this page.