TL;DR: Dogs are allowed on Myrtle Beach year-round, but from May 1 through Labor Day city ordinance keeps them off the sand between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Every Grand Strand beach town sets its own hours and start dates, so the rule that applies depends on which stretch of sand you're standing on. Leash and cleanup requirements apply at all times.
Planning a Beach Trip With Your Dog This Summer
Roughly 9 miles of Horry County's public beach sit outside any city limits, and the Grand Strand's incorporated towns each write their own beach ordinances. That means a dog owner can walk south from Myrtle Beach into unincorporated county sand and then into Surfside Beach, crossing three separate sets of rules in a single afternoon. The differences are small on paper and expensive in practice. Understanding which jurisdiction governs your stretch of beach is the difference between an easy morning walk and a citation.
Are Dogs Allowed on Myrtle Beach in Summer 2026?
Yes — with a midday gap. According to the City of Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances § 4-8 (2026), it is unlawful to allow any dog on the public beaches from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the period from May 1 through Labor Day each year. Assistance animals and law enforcement dogs are excepted. Owners in violation are subject to arrest, and dogs may be impounded.
Labor Day falls on September 7, 2026, so the restricted window runs through that date. After it, dogs are welcome on city beaches at any hour until the following May 1.
Section 5-13 of the same code adds detail for anyone on the sand:
Any animal on the beach must be on a hand-held leash no longer than seven feet, under the direct control of the person with custody.
The person in control is responsible for cleaning up any animal refuse.
Reptiles, exotic animals, and wild or feral animals are prohibited on any public beach, beach access, adjacent street end, or government land next to the beach.
Two more city rules catch visitors off guard. Leashed dogs are permitted on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk only between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. from May 1 through Labor Day (Myrtle Beach Code § 12-32). And under § 4-8(b), animals may not be taken onto the Ocean Boulevard right-of-way between 21st Avenue North and 13th Avenue South during that same season, except to cross directly.
Grand Strand Dog Beach Rules Change by Jurisdiction
This is where most trip planning goes wrong. The seasonal windows and prohibited hours are not uniform across the Grand Strand.
North Myrtle Beach bars dogs from the beach between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from May 15 through Labor Day — a later start date and an earlier evening release than Myrtle Beach. The Town of Surfside Beach prohibits dogs and other domestic pets on the public beach between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day, and permits leashed dogs at all other times. On the unincorporated county beaches, Horry County prohibits animals on the beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 1 through Labor Day, and requires a hand-held leash no longer than 7 feet. North Myrtle Beach + 2
Seasonal Dog Restrictions on Grand Strand Public Beaches, Summer 2026
| Jurisdiction | Restricted Season | Hours Dogs Prohibited | Max Leash Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Myrtle Beach | May 1 – Labor Day | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | 7 feet, hand-held |
| North Myrtle Beach | May 15 – Labor Day | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | 7 feet |
| Town of Surfside Beach | May 1 – Labor Day | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | 7 feet |
| Unincorporated Horry County | May 1 – Labor Day | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | 7 feet, hand-held |
Sources: City of Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances §§ 4-8, 5-13 (2026); City of North Myrtle Beach Beach Laws (2026); Town of Surfside Beach Beach Rules (2026); Horry County SC.Gov, About Our Beaches (2026). Programs and rules are subject to change; verify current details with the governing jurisdiction before your trip.
The Horry County stretches include the beach just south of North Myrtle Beach down to the Dunes Club (including Shore Drive), the area south of Springmaid Pier to the Surfside town limits, and everything south of Surfside through Garden City Beach to the Georgetown County line. If you are staying along Shore Drive or in Garden City, county rules apply — not city rules. Horry County
Leash, Cleanup, and What a Violation Costs
Leash and waste rules are year-round and apply well beyond the sand. Myrtle Beach Code § 4-6(a) requires any animal off its owner's property to be on a leash not exceeding seven feet and under the person's control. Section 4-6(d) makes it unlawful to fail to promptly remove and properly dispose of feces left on public property or on private property the owner does not own — and classifies failure to do so as conduct making the animal a nuisance animal.
Penalties are not nominal. Under Myrtle Beach Code § 1-9(a), violations carry a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, at the municipal judge's discretion, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Practical takeaways for a summer visit:
Plan walks for early morning or after 5:00 p.m. during the restricted season.
Carry waste bags; cleanup is the handler's legal responsibility everywhere.
Test the sand temperature before walking your dog on it midday.
Confirm which jurisdiction your rental sits in before you assume the hours.
What to Confirm in a Pet-Friendly Vacation Rental
City ordinance is only the first layer. A large share of Grand Strand oceanfront inventory is condominium property, and condo regimes and HOAs set their own pet rules independent of any city code. According to CCAR MLS (2025 Annual Report), condos made up 73.3% of the Myrtle Beach market, 55.4% in North Myrtle Beach, and 37.9% in Surfside Beach. A property can sit in a jurisdiction that permits dogs on the beach while the building itself restricts them.
Before booking, confirm in writing with the property manager: whether pets are permitted at all, any size or number limits, pet fees or deposits, whether the association allows pets on the property and in common areas, and where pets may be walked on site. If you own or are considering a rental property, pet policy is a positioning decision worth thinking through deliberately — our guide to short-term rental rules in Myrtle Beach covers the regulatory side, and our questions to ask a vacation rental management company covers how policies get enforced in practice.
Interest in this segment is not marginal. According to NAR's REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), 16% of sales were for non-primary residence use, with 5% intended specifically for vacation use. For travelers looking for a place to stay, Carolina Crafted Getaways lists Grand Strand vacation properties with current availability.
Sorting Out Which Rules Apply to Your Stay
The hardest part of traveling to the Grand Strand with a dog isn't the restrictions themselves — it's knowing which of the four rule sets governs the sand outside your door, since Shore Drive, Garden City, and the incorporated towns don't share a rulebook. If you're weighing a purchase along the coast and pet policy factors into how you'd use or rent the property, the jurisdiction question shapes more than beach hours. We're happy to walk through how it applies to a specific location — reach out and we'll talk it through.
FAQ SECTION
Are dogs allowed on Myrtle Beach in the summer?
Yes, but not all day. Under City of Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances § 4-8 (2026), dogs are prohibited on public beaches from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day each year. Outside those hours, and outside that season, dogs are permitted. Assistance animals and law enforcement dogs are excepted from the restriction. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash no longer than seven feet whenever they are on the beach, and handlers are responsible for cleaning up after them. In 2026, Labor Day falls on September 7.
What time can I take my dog on the beach in Myrtle Beach?
Before 10:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. during the May 1 through Labor Day season. Early morning is often the more comfortable option for the dog, since sand surfaces heat significantly by midday. After Labor Day and through April 30, there are no hourly restrictions on city beaches — dogs are permitted at any time of day, though leash and cleanup requirements still apply year-round under Myrtle Beach Code § 4-6.
Are the dog rules the same in North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach?
No. North Myrtle Beach prohibits dogs on the beach from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and its restricted season starts May 15 rather than May 1. Surfside Beach matches Myrtle Beach's 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. window and May 1 start date. Unincorporated Horry County beaches — including Shore Drive and Garden City Beach — follow a 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. restriction from May 1 through Labor Day. Confirm which jurisdiction governs your specific beach access before assuming the hours.
What happens if you break the dog beach rules in Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach Code § 1-9(a) sets a general penalty of a fine up to $500, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, at the discretion of the municipal court judge. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. Section 4-8 also specifies that owners are subject to arrest and dogs may be impounded. Enforcement is handled by city police and beach patrol during the summer season.
Can I bring my dog on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk?
Only during a narrow window in peak season. Leashed dogs are permitted on the Boardwalk between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. from May 1 through Labor Day. Outside those hours during the season, dogs are prohibited except for direct crossing. From the day after Labor Day through April 30, dogs are allowed on the Boardwalk at any time. Separately, animals may not be taken onto the Ocean Boulevard right-of-way between 21st Avenue North and 13th Avenue South during the summer season, other than to cross.
Does a pet-friendly vacation rental mean my dog can go anywhere on the property?
Not necessarily. City ordinance governs the public beach; the property's condominium regime or homeowners association governs the building and grounds. Condos represented 73.3% of the Myrtle Beach market in 2025 according to CCAR MLS, so association rules affect a large share of coastal rental inventory. Confirm pet size limits, fees, common-area access, and designated walking areas directly with the property manager in writing before booking.
Sources
City of Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances (Municode): https://library.municode.com/sc/myrtle_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances
City of Myrtle Beach — Beach Conditions & Laws: https://cityofmyrtlebeach.com/i_want_to/learn_about/beach_conditions.php
City of North Myrtle Beach — Beach Laws: https://www.nmb.us/249/Beach-Laws
Town of Surfside Beach — Beaches: https://www.surfsidebeach.org/200/Beaches
Horry County Government — About Our Beaches: https://horrycountysc.gov/
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® — Market Stats: https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
National Association of REALTORS®: https://www.nar.realtor/
