Rehoboth Beach · Sussex County
Can dogs go on Rehoboth Beach?
Dogs are not allowed on Rehoboth Beach today
Today falls inside the May 15 – September 15 closure — off the beach and off the boardwalk at every hour. Dogs come back September 16.
Yes, from September 16 through May 14. Dogs are banned from the beach and boardwalk May 15 through September 15. The city moved these dates in January 2026 — most guides still print the old May 1 to September 30 ban.
Rehoboth 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
Rehoboth Beach — dog rules by season
| Where | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | May 15 – September 15 | No dogs No dogs at any hour. There is no early-morning or evening exception during the closure. Leash required |
| Boardwalk | May 15 – September 15 | No dogs The boardwalk closure runs on the same dates as the beach. Leash required |
| Beach | September 16 – May 14 | Dogs allowed, with limits Leashed dogs are allowed, EXCEPT when lifeguards are on duty. Guards are typically still working the shoulder weeks in September and again in May — confirm the guard schedule before relying on this in mid-May or late September. Leash required |
| Boardwalk | September 16 – May 14 | Dogs allowed The lifeguard exception is written for the beach. Whether it also reaches the boardwalk is not settled in the published notice — treat as unconfirmed. Leash required |
Also true
- Leash
- Required at all times a dog is permitted.
- Cleanup
- Required. Carry bags — off-season stations are not reliably stocked.
- Public dog park in town
- None. The nearest public off-leash parks are Millsboro and Milford, both about 40 minutes out.
Why the dates you found somewhere else are wrong
Rehoboth ran its dog closure from May 1 to September 30 for years. On January 16, 2026 the commissioners re-cut the seasonal dates to match the city's parking season, moving the closure to May 15 – September 15. Rental agencies, tourism pages and blog posts are still publishing the old window. Practically, that means they will tell you dogs are banned for the second half of September when they are not, and that dogs are welcome in the first half of May when they are not. One of those errors costs you a trip; the other costs you a fine.
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
Non-guarded and surf-fishing beaches in Delaware State Parks
Open to dogs year-round, including through the summer. Watch for discarded hooks and monofilament line — that is the tradeoff for a beach where dogs are legal in July.
Not yet first-party verified
- 02
Slaughter Beach
Leashed dogs year-round, about 40 minutes north. Horseshoe crab sanctuary — in May and June the beach is carpeted with them and dogs will eat the molts.
Not yet first-party verified
- 03
Assateague Island National Seashore
Dogs year-round on a 6-ft leash, outside lifeguarded areas. The National Seashore only — not Assateague State Park next door, which is where people get this wrong.
Not yet first-party verified
About Rehoboth Beach
The biggest of the Delaware beach towns and the one most visitors mean by "the beach". A mile of boardwalk, and no public dog park anywhere in the city limits.
- Water
- Ocean
- Boardwalk
- Yes
- Parking
- Metered and permit, in season.
- County
- Sussex County
Who to call in Rehoboth Beach
City of Rehoboth Beach
229 Rehoboth Ave
Dog rules, ordinances, beach questions.
Police / 911 Center, non-emergency
Loose dog, a dispute, anything not an emergency. Confirm this is the right non-emergency line.
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 Dewey Beach? — open all year, before 9:30 am and after 5:30 pm in season
- Can dogs go on Bethany Beach? — shut May 15 – September 30
- 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