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Satellite Beach City Council Unanimously Approves Trial Program Allowing Dogs on City Beaches

By  //  December 7, 2025

New Rules Will Let Dogs on Satellite Beach Beaches — But Only in the Mornings

Dog owners in Satellite Beach will soon be able to bring their pets along for a stroll by the sea, at least on a trial basis. The Satellite Beach City Council unanimously approved a four-month pilot program last week that will allow dogs on city beaches from Jan. 1 through April 30, 2026, during limited morning hours.

BREVARD COUNTY • SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA — Dog owners in Satellite Beach will soon be able to bring their pets along for a stroll by the sea, at least on a trial basis.

The Satellite Beach City Council unanimously approved a four-month pilot program last week that will allow dogs on city beaches from Jan. 1 through April 30, 2026, during limited morning hours.

Under the plan, dogs will be permitted on the sand daily from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. — a major shift from the city’s long-standing ban on pets at the beach, except for working service animals.

City officials said the change was prompted by growing interest from residents who asked the council to reconsider the prohibition.

The ordinance includes the following conditions aimed at protecting the environment and keeping beaches clean and safe:

■ Dogs are allowed only between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
■ Pets must be leashed at all times, with leashes no longer than 7 feet.
■ Dogs are not permitted in the dunes.
■ Owners must immediately clean up after their pets.
■ Violations are considered non-criminal infractions and carry fines of $50 for a first offense $100 for a second offense, and up to $250 for third and subsequent violations.

The Satellite Beach City Council unanimously approved a four-month pilot program last week that will allow dogs on city beaches from Jan. 1 through April 30, 2026, during limited morning hours. Under the plan, dogs will be permitted on the sand daily from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. — a major shift from the city’s long-standing ban on pets at the beach, except for working service animals.

Offenders may also be ordered to leave the beach, and in some cases, dogs could be impounded. City law enforcement will be responsible for enforcing the ordinance.

The pilot is scheduled for the months when endangered sea turtles are not nesting. Turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31, and the approved window avoids that period.

If the trial is successful, the council could consider making dog access a seasonal policy, effective from Nov. 1 through April 30.

Once the four-month trial ends, council members plan to review feedback from residents, enforcement officers, and environmental data before deciding whether to continue, change, or end the program.

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