Dog beaches and off-lead areas around Perth: check before you go
Perth has plenty of places to walk a dog by the water, but the rules change from one council to the next, and sometimes from one end of a beach to the other. This guide collects what eleven councils say on their own websites, as at October 2026, from Two Rocks in the north to Mandurah in the south, plus a short list of what to bring. It isn't a complete list, and rules can change: the signs on the day and the council's page always win.
Dog beaches by council at a glance
| Council | Beaches the council names for dogs |
|---|---|
| Wanneroo | Parts of Quinns Rocks, Yanchep and Two Rocks beaches |
| Joondalup | Hillarys Dog Beach; Horse Beach depends on day and time |
| Stirling | Peasholm Street (Scarborough), Trigg (Kathleen to Bennion streets), North Beach (Castle to Margaret streets) |
| Cambridge | North Floreat Beach and South City Beach (off leash) |
| Nedlands | Swanbourne Beach dog exercise area |
| Cottesloe | South Cottesloe Beach and Grant Street Beach, with time limits at Grant Street |
| Fremantle | Varies by beach; check the City's map |
| Cockburn | C.Y. O'Connor Beach and Jervoise Bay dog beach (off leash on the City's map) |
| Rockingham | Nine permitted dog beaches, from Weld Street to Bight Reefs Road |
| Mandurah | Over 17 km of coastline in marked segments |
The rule of thumb differs by council
- City of Stirling: dogs must be on a leash in public places such as streets and near roads. In City parks and reserves they may be off leash, unless the park is listed with extra restrictions, and they must stay under effective control.
- City of Fremantle and City of Cockburn: dogs are on lead in public places unless an area is designated as an off-lead exercise area. Both councils publish a map of those areas.
- City of Joondalup: dogs should be on a leash in public places unless they are in a designated dog exercise area or off-leash dog park. The City lists more than 200 parks and reserves where dogs may be off lead.
Northern beaches
Wanneroo. The City lists three dog exercise beaches: part of Quinns Rocks Beach (north from Tapping Way), part of Yanchep Beach (south from Nautical Court) and part of Two Rocks Beach (south of the southern groyne). You must keep effective control of your dog at all times, "including when it is off-lead". Elsewhere on the coast, dogs are not allowed in the beach reserve and can use coastal paths only on a lead. In July 2026 the Council endorsed more possible dog beach sites for community consultation; none of these is a dog beach yet.
Joondalup. Hillarys Dog Beach is set aside all year for exercising dogs, off lead under effective control. On the Horse Beach just to the north, the rules depend on the day and time. Dogs must be on lead in the car park.
Stirling. Three dog beaches: Peasholm Street dog beach (Scarborough), Trigg Beach between Kathleen and Bennion streets, and North Beach between Castle and Margaret streets. The City says dogs are prohibited at all other beach and coastal reserve areas.
Western suburbs
Cambridge. The Town's dog exercise areas map marks North Floreat Beach and South City Beach as off-leash areas, while the City Beach and Floreat Beach area in between is marked as dogs prohibited. In off-leash areas a person able to control the dog must be close by, carry a leash and pick up after it.
Swanbourne (City of Nedlands). Swanbourne Beach, Lot 500 Marine Parade, is a dog exercise area where dogs may be off lead under control and must not disturb other beach users. The sand next to the Swanbourne Beach development and the beach playground are dog-prohibited, as signposted, and car parks are not part of the exercise area.
Cottesloe. The Town names South Cottesloe Beach (from the small groyne at Beach Street to Mosman Beach) and Grant Street Beach as dog beaches. At Grant Street, dogs are not allowed on the beach from October to March between 10am and 4pm. Check the Town's page for lead rules at each.
Fremantle and Cockburn
Fremantle. Dog access varies between beaches and foreshore areas. Some are off-lead, some on-lead and some dog-prohibited, so the City asks you to check its map and the boundaries before you visit.
Cockburn. Dogs are on lead in public places unless an area is designated off-lead. The City's dog beaches map shows two off-leash beaches: C.Y. O'Connor Beach, from north of the South Fremantle Power Station to the Catherine Point groyne, and the Jervoise Bay dog beach, facing south to the Henderson shipbuilding area and reached from Jervoise Bay Cove. Dogs are prohibited at Woodman Point, Coogee Beach and its reserve, Ngarkal Beach at Port Coogee Marina and Chelydra Beach.
Kwinana. The City of Kwinana's own information sheet points dog owners to the nearest dog beaches: C.Y. O'Connor Beach in North Coogee (Cockburn) and Weld Street (Rockingham).
Rockingham and Mandurah
Rockingham. The City's map lists nine permitted dog beaches: Weld Street; Hymus Street (south around the point to Boundary Road); McLarty Road (to Mersey Point car park); Bent Street car park (to Donald Drive boat ramp); Shelton Street (to St Malo Cove); Capella Pass (south for 1 km); Siracusa Court (at the Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour boundary); Crystaluna Drive (500 m south); and Bight Reefs Road (to the southern boundary of the district). Only let your dog off leash if you have effective voice control, keep it on lead during major events, carry a leash and keep 10 m clear of playgrounds and picnic and barbecue areas.
Mandurah. The City allows responsible off-lead dog exercise on more than 17 km of coastline, in marked segments through Madora Bay, San Remo, Silver Sands, Halls Head, Falcon, Wannanup, Florida and Melros. Some stretches, including Avalon Beach, are dog-prohibited. Keep your dog on a lead until you are on the beach itself.
What to bring
- A complete lead, even for an off-lead beach. The Canny Waterproof Lead is PVC webbing that wipes clean after sand and salt water, according to the maker; a 5 m or 7 m training line is for recall practice where permitted. Check the council's rules on lead length before using one; a shorter lead may be required for on-lead paths and access areas. Car parks, paths and the walk in are usually on-lead areas, and several councils ask you to carry one.
- A collar with a registration tag. Cockburn's page says a dog must wear one in a public place, with your name and current phone number.
- Bags for clean-up. Stirling notes that leaving droppings behind is an offence, with a $100 on-the-spot penalty.
- Fresh water and a suitable bowl, packed for the route and the conditions. See our walking essentials.
- Something for the drive home. A seat cover protects upholstery from wet sand. It doesn't replace appropriate restraint in the car.
Common questions
Is Hillarys Dog Beach off lead? Yes, the City of Joondalup sets it aside all year for exercising dogs off lead, under effective control. Dogs must be on lead in the car park.
Can dogs go off lead at Swanbourne? In the dog exercise area at Swanbourne Beach, yes, under control. The sand next to the beach development and the playground are dog-prohibited.
Where are the dog beaches south of Fremantle? C.Y. O'Connor Beach and the Jervoise Bay dog beach in Cockburn, nine permitted beaches in Rockingham, and marked stretches of coast in Mandurah.
Which dog beaches are north of the city? Hillarys (Joondalup), and parts of Quinns Rocks, Yanchep and Two Rocks beaches (Wanneroo).
Is North Beach a dog beach? Part of it. The City of Stirling's dog beach at North Beach runs between Castle and Margaret streets; dogs are prohibited at its other beach and coastal reserve areas.
Can I take my dog to City Beach? Not to the main City Beach and Floreat Beach area, which the Town of Cambridge marks as dogs prohibited. North Floreat Beach and South City Beach, either side of it, are off-leash areas.
Are there summer time limits at Perth dog beaches? Some beaches have them. At Grant Street Beach in Cottesloe, dogs are not allowed on the beach from October to March between 10am and 4pm. Check each council's page for its own rules.
Before you go
Check the council's page or map on the day, read the signs at the entrance, and keep your dog on lead whenever you're unsure. Rules can include times, seasons and short stretches of beach, and a beach can close for a while: in August 2025 the City of Joondalup temporarily closed Hillarys Dog Beach after storms. A quick check saves a long walk back to the car.
Sources: City of Stirling, "Dog exercise areas"; City of Joondalup, "Animal exercise areas" and "Storms lead to closure of dog beach" (7 August 2025); City of Fremantle, "Dogs in Fremantle"; City of Cockburn, "Dog Ownership and Management" and "Animal Management and Exercise Plan"; City of Wanneroo, "Owning a dog" and "Council endorses potential dog beach locations for community consultation" (29 July 2026); Town of Cambridge, "Exercising Your Dog"; City of Nedlands, "Reminder: Dogs at Swanbourne Beach"; Town of Cottesloe, "Dog Beaches"; City of Kwinana, "Dog Exercise Areas"; City of Rockingham, "Pet recreation"; City of Mandurah, "Responsible Pet Ownership". Stirling, Joondalup, Fremantle and Cockburn read 5 October 2026; the others 20 October 2026.
Kipnook is a small Perth online shop. This guide is general information only. Council rules change, so check the council's page and the signs before you go.