Bethany Beach · Sussex County
Can dogs go on Bethany Beach?
Dogs are not allowed on Bethany Beach today
Today falls inside the May 15 – September 30 closure — off the beach and off the boardwalk at every hour. Dogs come back October 1.
Not between May 15 and September 30 — dogs are off the beach and the boardwalk. They're allowed October 1 through May 14. Bethany reopens two weeks later than Rehoboth, which is the mistake people make driving down in late September.
Bethany Beach in the closed season. The closure covers the boardwalk on the same dates as the beach — that's the part people miss. The guard stand matters too: where an off-season allowance exists, it usually doesn't apply on days lifeguards are working.
Illustrated stand-in. Replaced when the photograph is taken.
The dates
Bethany Beach — dog rules by season
| Where | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | May 15 – September 30 | No dogs No dogs at any hour. There is no early-morning exception. Leash required |
| Boardwalk | May 15 – September 30 | No dogs The boardwalk closes on the same dates as the beach. Leash required |
| Beach | October 1 – May 14 | Dogs allowed Leashed, and cleaned up after. A town license and a worn tag are required. Leash required |
| Boardwalk | October 1 – May 14 | Dogs allowed Leashed at all times. Leash required |
Also true
- Leash
- Required and curbed at all times, everywhere in town.
- Tags
- License tag must be worn.
- Running at large
- Dogs found loose may be handed to the Delaware SPCA.
You need a license
Bethany requires dogs to be licensed and to wear the tag at all times. Confirm whether this applies to visiting dogs or only to residents before relying on it.
Bethany and Rehoboth do not reopen on the same day
Rehoboth moved its closure to May 15 – September 15 in January 2026. Bethany still runs to September 30. Fifteen miles apart, fifteen days apart, and almost every guide that covers both prints one set of dates for the whole coast. If you drive down in the second half of September expecting the same rule you read for Rehoboth, Bethany's beach is still shut to your dog.
Where to go instead during the closure
Most guides answer the summer question with "you can't." These are the places where a dog is legal anyway.
- 01
Open to dogs year-round, before 9:30am and after 5:30pm in summer. About 25 minutes north. A town license is required.
Not yet first-party verified
- 02
Non-guarded and surf-fishing beaches in Delaware State Parks
Open to dogs year-round on a leash. Fenwick Island State Park is the nearest stretch.
Not yet first-party verified
About Bethany Beach
The "quiet resorts" — smaller and more residential than Rehoboth, with a boardwalk and a bandstand. Closes to dogs later in the year than any of its neighbours.
- Water
- Ocean
- Boardwalk
- Yes
- Parking
- Metered, in season.
- County
- Sussex County
Who to call in Bethany Beach
Town of Bethany Beach
214 Garfield Parkway
Dog rules, licenses, tags.
Bethany Beach Police, non-emergency
If something goes wrong
Delmarva Animal Emergency Center
About 1 hour1482 E Lebanon Rd, Dover, DE 19901
Hours Mon–Thu 6pm – 8am · Fri–Sun 24 hours
NOT 24/7 on weekdays — it opens at 6pm and closes at 8am. A Tuesday afternoon emergency is not covered here.
Pet's ER
About 1 hour402 Punkin Ct, Salisbury, MD 21804
Hours Not confirmed
Closest option to Fenwick and Bethany. Confirm hours and whether they take out-of-state clients.
BluePearl Pet Hospital, Christiana
About 1 hour 45 minutes106 Geoffrey Dr, Newark, DE 19713
Hours 24 hours, every day
The only genuine round-the-clock option in Delaware, but it is at the top of the state — a long drive from the beaches.
Rehoboth Beach Animal Hospital
In townNumber not confirmed
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Hours Urgent care, reported five days a week
Nearest urgent care to the beach towns, but it is urgent care and not a 24-hour ER. Confirm the days, the hours, and whether they see non-clients.
- Emergency — people
- 911
Always. Beach emergencies, injuries, anything time-critical.
- Delaware SPCA
- Not confirmed
Stray and loose-dog intake. Number not yet confirmed.
- Animal Poison Control (ASPCA)
- 888-426-4435
24 hours. A consultation fee usually applies. Useful for a swallowed bait, a bloom exposure, or anything eaten off the sand.
Hours at coastal practices move with the season and none of these numbers has been confirmed first-hand yet. Call ahead rather than driving on trust, and pick your one now — before you need it.
The other towns
No two of these share a set of dates. If your trip crosses more than one, check each.
- Can dogs go on Rehoboth Beach? — shut May 15 – September 15
- Can dogs go on Dewey Beach? — open all year, before 9:30 am and after 5:30 pm in season
- Can dogs go on Lewes Beach? — open all year, before 8 am and after 6:30 pm in season
- Can dogs go on Fenwick Island beach? — shut May 1 – September 30
- All five, side by side
- How we check this, and what we do when we're wrong