Dogs come back to the beach on October 1

The town's Beach Activities Ordinance keeps dogs off the beach and the Boardwalk from May 1 through September 30. On October 1 that reverses: leashed dogs are welcome on both, and stay welcome until April 30.

This is not a change and nothing has been decided this month. It is the same rule the ordinance has carried for years, dated here because the date is the part people get wrong — every year somebody drives down in late September with the dog in the back and loses a day to it.

• May 1 – September 30: no dogs on the beach or the Boardwalk
• October 1 – April 30: leashed dogs welcome on both
• Year-round: the Dog Playground at 94th Street, bayside
• Everywhere in town, all year: you clean up

The BeachTen miles of it, and none of it is open to dogs before October.

Official rules govern and the town can change them. Check oceancitymd.gov before you drive down with a dog in the car.