Sunshine Coast tightens dog access, new beach rules start July 2026
Sunshine Coast dogs will lose access on some beaches and fields from 3 July, as new leash zones, no-dog pockets and seasonal closures reshape daily exercise routes.
Energetic dogs that have been burning off steam on the Sunshine Coast’s beaches and reserves will face a much tighter map from 3 July, when new local laws redraw where dogs can run, sniff and train. Some familiar stretches will switch to on-leash, others to no-dog zones, and active sports fields will be off limits. For owners who depend on fetch, recall work and pre-park warmups, the default route may no longer be legal.
The clearest changes are on the coastline. At Stumers Creek and Coolum Beach, dogs will need to be on leash when entering from the carpark or surrounding access points. Currimundi Beach’s off-leash area north of the lake will stay unchanged, but Ballinger Beach near Ann Street in Currimundi will gain a 50-metre buffer near the Dicky Beach Bathing Reserve where dogs are not allowed. Caloundra Headland will also tighten up, with no-dog zones between Beach Access 281 and 283 and on-leash-only access between Beach Access 293 and 295.
Other shorelines will split between access and protection. Maroochy North Shore is being positioned as the place to head when seasonal closures shut down nearby options, with the council saying the timing is meant to protect threatened migratory shorebirds. Point Perry and Point Arkwright will include habitat-sensitive areas where dogs are not allowed, while Point Cartwright will keep off-leash access between Beach Access 198 and 201. Moffat Headland will retain a seasonal off-leash stretch from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. from May to October, south of the rockshelf at Shelly Beach.
The broader picture is not a blanket retreat. Sunshine Coast Council says the region has 34 kilometres of dog-friendly coastline, including 16.4 kilometres off leash and 17.9 kilometres on leash, plus more than 1,600 kilometres of on-leash pathways. It also says 73% of the region’s beaches, or 34.3 kilometres of 47.1 kilometres total, will still provide for dogs. A long-term plan adopted in December 2025 sets out 22 new dog parks over the next 20 years, with sites such as Pelican Waters, Yandina Tea Tree Park and Banya Avenue Linear Park already identified for future upgrades or new facilities.
The council’s message is equally firm on sports grounds. Dogs will not be allowed on active sports playing surfaces, although they will still be permitted on leash in surrounding common areas and viewing spaces. That means informal drills, ball work and recovery laps around school and club fields will have to move elsewhere, while the line between dog exercise and organised sport gets sharper.
The reset follows a consultation that ran from 4 February to 7 March 2025 and drew 2,530 submissions, with more than 85% of respondents saying they had used a dog exercise area on the Sunshine Coast. Council says updated signs will be installed progressively and its live map will reflect the changes from 3 July, which is when the old routine for many high-drive dogs will stop matching the rules on the ground.
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