A sandy path between sea oats and a dune fence leading to the beach
Plan your trip

Panama City Beach with a dog

Dogs aren't allowed on the city's beaches, with one exception: Dog Beach, 400 feet of beach west of the Russell-Fields City Pier. Keep your dog on a leash there, and bring no more than two per person. 13 of the 23 hotels we list take pets.

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The rules
Checked November 1, 20261 dog beach13 hotels take pets

Panama City Beach · Photo: Michael Monahan / Unsplash · Credits

The short answer

Rules for dogs at the beach

Service dogs helping a person with a disability are exempt from the beach bans.

City beaches
No animals on the sand between the water and the coastal construction line, except on beaches the city council has opened by resolution and trained service dogs helping a person with a disability
Dog Beach
The one city beach where dogs may go: 400 feet west of the Russell-Fields City Pier, at beach accesses 56 and 57
In city parks and on Dog Beach
On a leash, except in fenced off-leash areas; at most 2 animals per person, tags with current vaccinations and ID, and no dogs under 4 months
Outside the city
Bay County bans animals on its beaches and in its public parks, except trained service dogs and areas it has opened. That applies in Laguna Beach and on the unincorporated stretch of Thomas Drive too
St. Andrews State Park
Pets aren't allowed on the beach. Where they are allowed, they need a hand-held leash of 6 feet or less
Shell Island
Neither the park ferry nor the Shell Island Shuttle takes pets
Bayway bus
No pets; service animals are allowed

Sources: city code chapter 7 (§ 7-9) and chapter 4 (§ 4-52), Bay County code chapter 4 (§ 4-43), Visit Panama City Beach: pet-friendly, Florida State Parks, Bayway FAQ, the ferry operators (Shell Island Shuttle, St. Andrews Adventures).

Dog Beach

The one beach where your dog can come

Dog Beach is 400 feet of sand just west of the Russell-Fields City Pier, across from Pier Park, at beach accesses 56 and 57. The tourism office gives 16101 Front Beach Road as the address; the city gives 16201. Free waste bags hang at the accesses, and you have to pick up after your dog. Signs mark the stretch where dogs are allowed. Dogs aren't allowed on the pier itself. The pier's parking lot fills up quickly; the tourism office points to the parking across the street at Pier Park (piers, FAQ).

The city counts it as a city beach, so the park rules apply: a leash, current tags and no puppies under 4 months. The city's dog page allows three dogs per person, the parks code two, so bring no more than two. The dog page also asks for an adult in charge, no females in heat, no food bowls or chews, and a muzzle for any dog with a bite history (or leave it at home). The city doesn't publish hours or a leash length for Dog Beach.

Pier Park and the city pier

Sources: Visit Panama City Beach: pet-friendly, City of Panama City Beach: dogs, city code § 4-52.

Off the beach: a fenced dog park and leashed walks

For off-leash play, Frank Brown Park at 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway has three fenced dog areas: Active Paws for big, high-energy dogs, Calm Paws for older and slower dogs, and Lakeside Paws by the lake. They're open 7 am to 9 pm, and dogs need current shots and ID tags. For a leashed walk, try the trails at Conservation Park or the lawns at Aaron Bessant Park next to Pier Park.

Pier Park's outdoor walkways are open to dogs, but most of its stores and restaurants don't let them in. Margaritaville welcomes leashed dogs on its patio.

Parks and trails Restaurants

Sources: City of Panama City Beach: dog park, Visit Panama City Beach: pet-friendly, Margaritaville.

A numbered public beach access with rule signs at the entrance
A numbered public beach access with the rules posted at the entrance.Panama City Beach · Photo: Christopher Vega / Unsplash
Two picks

Two hotels on the sand that take dogs and publish the fee

The Hyatt Place takes dogs only: up to two, each under 50 lb. Cats and other animals aren't accepted. The Hampton Inn's own page allows pets up to 75 lb for a $75 non-refundable fee. Expedia lists cats and dogs, up to two, for $125 depending on the length of stay, so confirm the fee when you book. By our OpenStreetMap estimate, the walk to Pier Park takes about 10 minutes from the Hyatt Place PCB Beachfront and 15 minutes from the Hampton Inn & Suites PCB Beachfront. Dog Beach is across Front Beach Road from Pier Park, by the city pier. Your dog still can't go on the sand in front of either hotel: city and county rules ban dogs on the beach outside Dog Beach.

Hyatt Place PCB Beachfront
Dogs only, under 50 lb
Pier Park · 15727 Front Beach Road

Hyatt Place PCB Beachfront

On the sand, ten minutes on foot from Pier Park, with a lazy river and free breakfast. The daily resort fee covers parking for one car and beach chair service.

Beach
On the sand
Walk to Pier Park
10 min
Parking
1 vehicle in the daily resort fee (Expedia: covered self-parking $22.60 a night)
Pets
Dogs only, up to 2, under 50 lb each; $125 for 1–6 nights, $225 for 7–30 nights; cats and other animals not accepted (Expedia: $141.25 depending on length of stay, plus a $113 cleaning fee)
Fees
Daily resort fee $40 plus tax March–October, $25 November–February (subject to change); includes parking for 1 vehicle and beach chair and umbrella service; Expedia lists no resort fee

Before you book: Fees: daily resort fee $40 plus tax March–October, $25 November–February (subject to change); includes parking for 1 vehicle and beach chair and umbrella service; Expedia lists no resort fee. Pets: dogs only, up to 2, under 50 lb each; $125 for 1–6 nights, $225 for 7–30 nights; cats and other animals not accepted (Expedia: $141.25 depending on length of stay, plus a $113 cleaning fee).

Good for

  • Walking to Pier Park from the sand
  • A lazy river
  • Bringing a dog

Skip if

  • You're under 18; check-in is 18+
Check prices on Expedia

Source: the hotel's website

Hampton Inn & Suites PCB Beachfront
Pets up to 75 lb
Pier Park · 15505 Front Beach Road

Hampton Inn & Suites PCB Beachfront

On the sand, 15 minutes on foot from Pier Park, with an outdoor pool, a kids' pool and a free hot breakfast. Parking is $21 a day in the garage across the street.

Beach
On the sand
Walk to Pier Park
15 min
Parking
$21 a day; the garage is across the street
Pets
Dogs and cats up to 75 lb, up to 2; $75 non-refundable fee (Expedia: $125, depending on length of stay)
Fees
None listed on Expedia

Before you book: Pets: dogs and cats up to 75 lb, up to 2; $75 non-refundable fee (Expedia: $125, depending on length of stay).

Good for

  • Walking to Pier Park from the sand
  • Bringing a dog

Skip if

  • You're under 21; check-in is 21+
Check prices on Expedia

Source: the hotel's website

Hotels that take pets

13 hotels and their pet rules

From each hotel's own website; where Expedia adds a detail or says something different, we name it. Not all of these hotels say which animals they take, so ask before you book. Even where the rules are published, check three things with the hotel: does your room type take pets, do you register your dog at check-in, and may your dog stay alone in the room?

  1. Candlewood Suites PCB PierPier ParkPetsDogs and cats under 50 lb, up to 2, some breeds excludedFee$75 a night, capped at $150 for stays of 7 days or more (Expedia: $75 per pet a night, at most $150 a stay)BeachNot on the beachPrices
  2. Garner Hotel PCB NortheastGrand LagoonPetsDogs and cats up to 50 lb, up to 2Fee$25 per pet a night, max $150 a stayBeachNot on the beachPrices
  3. Embassy Suites PCB ResortPier ParkPetsDogs and cats up to 75 lb, up to 2Feenon-refundable fee $75 for 1–4 nights, $125 for 5 or moreBeachAcross the roadPrices
  4. Fairfield Inn & Suites PCBGrand LagoonPetsUp to 2 pets, in some rooms onlyFee$75 a stay, not refundable (Expedia: cats and dogs up to 75 lb, $75 per pet)BeachNot on the beachPrices
  5. Hampton Inn & Suites PCB BeachfrontPier ParkOn the sandPetsDogs and cats up to 75 lb, up to 2Fee$75 non-refundable fee (Expedia: $125, depending on length of stay)BeachOn the sandPrices
  6. Hampton Inn & Suites PCB Pier Park areaOpen SandsPetsAllowed up to 75 lb (medium size)Feenon-refundable $75 for 1–4 nights, $125 for 5+ nights (Expedia: cats and dogs only, up to 2; $75 a stay plus a $75 pet deposit)BeachNot on the beachPrices
  7. Home2 Suites Panama City BeachGrand LagoonPetsUp to 2 pets, 75 lb combinedFeenon-refundable fee $75 for 1–4 nights, $125 for 5 nights or more (Expedia: dogs only)BeachNot on the beachPrices
  8. Homewood Suites PCBGrand LagoonPetsAllowed, up to 2, up to 75 lbFee$75 for 1–4 nights, $125 for 5 nights or more, not refundable (Expedia: dogs and cats, up to 70 lb each)BeachNot on the beachPrices
Fines

What it costs to break the rules

The city treats a dog on the beach as a class 3 violation. Breaking a park rule, such as walking your dog without a leash on Dog Beach, is a separate violation with its own fines.

Sources: city code §§ 7-9, 7-503 and § 4-56, Bay County code § 4-7.

Dog on a city beach
$50 the first time, $100 the second, $200 after that; $25, $50 and $150 if you don't contest it
Breaking a city park rule, such as the leash rule
$100 the first time, $250 the second, $500 after that; half if you don't contest it
Bay County animal rules
Up to $500 a violation, plus a $5 surcharge