Dorset Council: dog rules

Rules added

• No dogs in enclosed children's play areas or on marked sports pitches.
• Dogs on leads where signed: cemeteries and churchyards, council allotments, formal gardens, within 5 metres of marked pitches, council car parks, and the Rodwell Trail in Weymouth.
• An officer can tell you to put your dog on a lead.
• Beach bans 1 May to 30 September are on the Beaches layer.
• Fine: £100, or £75 if paid within 14 days.

Current order runs to 31 December 2026. A replacement was consulted on to 7 August 2026.

Source: Dorset Council. Checked October 2026.

Assistance dogs: most council dog orders and beach bans exempt assistance dogs, such as guide and hearing dogs. Check the source if you are unsure.

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Beaches with dog rules

• Lyme Regis Front BeachDogs banned 1 May to 30 September
• Charmouth West BeachDogs banned 1 May to 30 September
• Seatown BeachDogs banned 1 May to 30 September
• West Bay (East and West Beaches)Dogs banned 1 May to 30 September
• West Bexington BeachDogs banned all year
• Weymouth Main BeachDogs banned 1 May to 30 September
• Swanage BeachDogs banned 1 May to 30 September
• Studland Beaches (Shell, South, Middle, Knoll south)Dogs on leads 1 May to 30 September

Named parks, paths and places

• Rodwell Trail, WeymouthOn a lead

Countryside

• RSPB Arne, WarehamOn a lead
• Brownsea Island, Poole HarbourNo dogs
• Bugdens Meadows, VerwoodNo dogs
• Girdlers Coppice, Sturminster NewtonNo dogs
• Upton Heath, Corfe MullenOn a lead
• Lorton Meadows, WeymouthOn a lead
• Happy Bottom, Corfe MullenOn a lead