Volusia County to celebrate start of dog-friendly beach pilot program

The county will host a ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, on the beach just north of the Milsap Road ramp in Ormond Beach.


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  • | 6:00 p.m. October 17, 2023
The County Council approved an 18-month pilot program allowing dogs on the beach from Milsap Road to Rockefeller Drive in Ormond Beach in a 6-1 vote at its meeting on Tuesday, July 11. Map courtesy of Volusia County
The County Council approved an 18-month pilot program allowing dogs on the beach from Milsap Road to Rockefeller Drive in Ormond Beach in a 6-1 vote at its meeting on Tuesday, July 11. Map courtesy of Volusia County
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Volusia County is set to open its first dog-friendly beach in over three decades on Nov. 1, a press release announced Tuesday.

To celebrate, the county will host a ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, on the beach just north of the Milsap Road ramp in Ormond Beach. Attendees can park at Andy Romano Beachfront Park, at 839 S. Atlantic Ave. The Milsap Road ramp will have a delayed opening until the ribbon-cutting concludes.

"Residents and visitors alike will revel in community interaction and outdoor recreational experiences through this dog-friendly section on the beach," the county press release stated. "The county is eager to share this experience with residents, both two-legged and four-legged, and looks forward to seeing many smiling faces and wagging tails on Nov. 4."

In July, the County Council approved an 18-month pilot program to allow dogs on the beach starting Nov. 1. The pilot initiative permits dogs and their owners to enjoy the beach from Rockefeller Drive to Milsap Road in Ormond Beach from sunrise to sunset. Pet owners must ensure their dogs are leashed and adhere to the posted guidelines. 

It will be the only stretch of beach open to dogs, aside from the dog-friendly beach parks: Smyrna Dunes Park, in New Smyrna Beach; and Lighthouse Point Park, in Ponce Inlet.

Volusia had previously prohibited dogs on the beach since it took over beach regulation in 1987.

 

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