Which beaches allow dogs in the Central Coast region?
29 verified: Arroyo Burro Beach County Park; Asilomar State Beach; Carmel Beach; Carmel River State Beach; Carpinteria State Beach; Cayucos State Beach; Del Monte Beach; El Capitán State Beach; Emma Wood State Beach; Hueneme Beach Park; Its Beach (Santa Cruz); Lighthouse Field State Beach; Manresa State Beach; McAbee Beach; McGrath State Beach; Mesa beach, Shoreline Park to Arroyo Burro (Santa Barbara); Mitchell's Cove Beach; Morro Rock Beach (Morro Bay city beach); New Brighton State Beach; Pfeiffer Beach (Los Padres National Forest); Pismo Beach (city beach); Pismo State Beach; Point Sal State Beach; Refugio State Beach; San Buenaventura State Beach; and more.
Beaches in the Central Coast region (Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura counties) where dogs are allowed, from official agency rules.
Checked October 26, 2026 to November 1, 2026. Published when at least three verified places qualify; this list covers only places verified so far, sorted by town and name.
| Place | Type | Town | Dogs | Answer | Leash | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seacliff State Beach | beach | Aptos | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Pfeiffer Beach (Los Padres National Forest) | beach | Big Sur | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 31, 2026 |
| New Brighton State Beach | beach | Capitola | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Carmel River State Beach | beach | Carmel | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Carmel Beach | beach | Carmel-by-the-Sea | Yes | Yes. Dogs may be off leash under voice control. | Off leash allowed under voice control | October 26, 2026 |
| Carpinteria State Beach | beach | Carpinteria | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Point Sal State Beach | beach | Casmalia | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed on trail. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Cayucos State Beach | beach | Cayucos | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Unless posted signs say otherwise. Dogs are allowed only on leash in permitted areas. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| El Capitán State Beach | beach | Goleta | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Refugio State Beach | beach | Goleta | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Del Monte Beach | beach | Monterey | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| McAbee Beach | beach | Monterey | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| San Carlos Beach Park | beach | Monterey | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Morro Rock Beach (Morro Bay city beach) | beach | Morro Bay | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | October 31, 2026 |
| Pismo State Beach | beach | Oceano | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs not allowed in Pismo Dune Preserve. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| McGrath State Beach | beach | Oxnard | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Asilomar State Beach | beach | Pacific Grove | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs on leash allowed on beach, trails, and conference grounds. Dogs not allowed in conference ground buildings. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Pismo Beach (city beach) | beach | Pismo Beach | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs must be on a leash at all times and are not permitted on the Pismo Pier. | Required | October 28, 2026 |
| Hueneme Beach Park | beach | Port Hueneme | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. No animals on the sand seaward of the pathways. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Arroyo Burro Beach County Park | beach | Santa Barbara | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs may be off leash under voice control in the posted off-leash area, and must be on a 6-foot leash until they reach it and after leaving it. No more than 3 dogs per adult; puppies under 4 months and dogs in heat are prohibited. | Off leash allowed under voice control | October 26, 2026 |
| Mesa beach, Shoreline Park to Arroyo Burro (Santa Barbara) | beach | Santa Barbara | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs may be off leash on the beach from the Shoreline Park staircase west to the eastern edge of the Arroyo Burro Estuary. Dogs must be licensed and tagged, healthy, not in heat and not aggressive. | Off leash allowed | October 26, 2026 |
| Its Beach (Santa Cruz) | beach | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 28, 2026 |
| Lighthouse Field State Beach | beach | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed on leash including the beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Mitchell's Cove Beach | beach | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs may be off leash before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Beach access is by the stairway on West Cliff Drive at Sunset Avenue. | Off leash allowed at certain times or seasons | October 26, 2026 |
| Twin Lakes State Beach | beach | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Emma Wood State Beach | beach | Ventura | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| San Buenaventura State Beach | beach | Ventura | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Manresa State Beach | beach | Watsonville | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Sunset State Beach | beach | Watsonville | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Except on the beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |