Can you bring a dog to the beach at St. Joe Beach?

Yes

under direct control, at all times

Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach at St. Joe Beach. It also has the only public off-leash dog park in Gulf County, a few minutes up Highway 98.

Leash

Always

Off-leash park

Beacon Hill

Waste stations

20+

The rule

Leashed everywhere public. Off-leash in one fenced park.

It shall be unlawful for any animal to run or remain at large on any street, road, alley, park or other public place.

§ 6-10, Gulf County Code of Ordinances

The same chapter defines direct control as immediate continuous physical control by means of a leash, cord or chain, and it applies across the unincorporated county. St. Joe Beach sits on Highway 98 between Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach, so it is county ground — not city. Gulf County has not published a maximum leash length.

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 to go

Four accesses, and the one park where the lead comes off.

The accesses along Highway 98 are walk-on, with parking at most.

Barnacle Beach Access, 9435 W. Hwy 98 — parking and an ADA Mobi-Mat

Whelk Beach Access, 8047 W. Hwy 98 — walk-on, ADA accessible

Veterans Memorial Park at Beacon Hill, 8750 W. Hwy 98 — a large fenced dog park, the only public spot in Gulf County where a dog can legally run off lead

The off-leash privilege is the fenced park itself. On the sand at the same park, the county leash rule still applies

The neighbours

Ten minutes in either direction, the rules change.

St. Joe Beach sits on the boundary between two very different sets of rules.

Mexico Beach, to the north-west — dogs are banned from the beach and the City Pier entirely, except west of Canal Parkway

WindMark Beach, to the south-east — same county rules, but no official source names it as pet friendly

Cape San Blas and Indian Pass, out on the peninsula — leashed dogs welcome, same county rule

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park — no dogs on the beach at all

More St. Joe Beach rules

The other three, in the same shape.

Staying at St. Joe Beach?

Rentals booked direct with the owner. No service fee.

Browse rentals

Official

§ 6-10, Gulf County Code of Ordinances Veterans Memorial Park at Beacon Hill

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.