Boca Raton’s Bark Beach Opens Daily for Off‑Leash Dogs, Permits Required

Bark Beach is no longer just a weekend luxury. In a win for Boca Raton pet owners, the popular dog-friendly stretch of Spanish River Park is now open daily." The off-leash zone at Spanish River Park, 3001 N. State Road A1A, between lifeguard towers 18 and 20, moved from a Friday–Sunday schedule to seven days a week after an outpouring of local support on social media.

City postings and park notices set the sand hours in two daily windows: "Dogs are welcome on the sand from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. until sunset." During Daylight Saving Time, "the afternoon session will start at 5 p.m." These set times are intended to "allow for play in the surf while avoiding the peak heat and larger crowds of the midday sun" and to balance the needs of pet owners and other park visitors.

Access requires a Bark Beach Dog Entry Permit for every dog. Short visits can use a three-day pass for $15, which must be used on consecutive days. Boca Raton residents and residents of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District may purchase an annual resident pass for $35. Nonresidents seeking year-round access must buy a $210 permit. The city notes Bark Beach Dog Entry Permits are issued on a season that runs October 1 through September 30; prospective buyers are instructed to visit the Annual Permits Page to learn what documentation is required and how to purchase or renew permits in person or online.

Operational rules remain strict: owners must keep pets leashed until they reach the sand, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. The city’s permit page includes a full liability waiver: "In exchange for the privilege of using the dog beach, the permit holder waives and releases any and all liability, claims and actions against the City of Boca Raton, its officers, employees and agents ('City') for injury and/or property damage of any type or nature that permit holder has, may have or that may subsequently accrue as a result of the use of this permit, including without limitation injury or damaged caused by the negligence of the City. The permit holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the City from any and all claims for injury and/or property damage resulting from the use of this permit." The permit page further states that dog owners are "responsible for, and liable with respect to, the actions of their dogs" and that dogs or owners who violate rules face removal from the park and possible suspension of park privileges. The City of Boca Raton "reserves the right to refuse entry to dogs and/or their owner into Mizner Bark or Bark Beach for the reasons of health, safety, and prior offenses or for the comfort of all patrons and/or their pets."

City messaging promoted the change with the header "🐾New! Bark Beach Now Open 7 Days a Week" and social posts echoed the daily expansion while noting limited hours. The change, effective February 16, 2026, aims to give residents weekday access to surf and sand and to help bypass weekend crowds. The city has not provided details in the permit material about lifeguard staffing during dog hours or whether ranger patrol levels will be increased; for incidents and enforcement concerns the park directs callers to Park Ranger Headquarters at (561) 393-7815 and asks permit seekers to consult the Annual Permits Page for purchase and renewal requirements.