{"id":357865,"date":"2026-07-30T18:30:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/357865\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T18:30:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:30:21","slug":"south-florida-beach-laws-on-pets-sleep-and-smoking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/357865\/","title":{"rendered":"South Florida beach laws on pets, sleep and smoking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Beachgoers<\/p>\n

Beachgoers can let it all hang out while relaxing. But there are rules.<\/p>\n

MATIAS J. OCNER<\/p>\n

mocner@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so hot outside that you may want to take everything off while enjoying a cool alcoholic beverage. But don\u2019t do that at the beach.<\/p>\n

Even though the beach seems like a place where anything goes, there are rules to follow. And those rules involve nudity and drinking, along with pets, cooking and spending the night.<\/p>\n

And over the past couple of years, local governments have also banned cigarettes at the beach in an effort to cut the smoke and litter.<\/p>\n

MORE: Does Florida have nude beaches? Here\u2019s where you can find clothing-optional sites<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to know about what you can and can\u2019t do on the beach in South Florida:<\/p>\n

Smoking on the beach \"Cigarette Cigarette butts are left behind as litter on Crandon Park Beach on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the day the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking on county beaches. Catherine Odom catherine.odom@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n

Miami-Dade law: Miami-Dade County approved an ordinance in June 2023 that bans smoking at county parks and beaches. Unfiltered cigars are still allowed. The law applies to:<\/p>\n

\u25aa Haulover Park Beach<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Crandon Park Beach<\/p>\n

\u25aa Rickenbacker Causeway beaches<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Atoll pools at Matheson Hammock Park<\/p>\n

\u25aa Homestead Bayfront Park<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Larry and Penny Thompson Park Beach<\/p>\n

\u25aa Amelia Earhart Park Beach<\/p>\n

The county cites health consequences of secondhand smoke exposure and cigarette butts some smokers leave behind that could affect the environment. Violators are subject to a civil citation and face a fine of up to $100 for their first offense. A second offense will carry a fine of $200, and third and subsequent offenses will carry a fine of $300.<\/p>\n

Miami Beach law: A smoking ban on city beaches and public parks went into effect in January 2023. Violating the law could lead to fines \u2014 $100 for a first offense and $200 for a second offense within a 12-month period \u2014 or even arrests at the discretion of Miami Beach police with a penalty of up to 60 days in jail. A third offense within 12 months would automatically trigger a criminal violation.<\/p>\n

Florida Keys law: Monroe County approved a smoking ban in August 2022. The ban affects county-owned beaches and parks. Vaping and smoking medical marijuana are still allowed. The law carries a fine of up to $100 for a first violation. The city of Key West still allows cigar smoking on its beaches, including Smathers. And Key West\u2019s popular Fort Zachary Historic State Park, controlled by the state of Florida, allows smoking outdoors.<\/p>\n

Nudity at the beach \"A A man sits at the concession stand on a stretch of Haulover Beach open to nude bathers. NISSA BENJAMIN Miami Herald File <\/p>\n

Nude beach: You can\u2019t take it all off, except at one Miami-Dade County beach. The northernmost stretch of Hauolver in Northeast Miami-Dade, just south of Sunny Isles Beach and north of Surfside and Bal Harbour, has been clothing-optional for more than 30 years. Some hotels in South Beach and Key West allow (or look the other way) topless sunbathing on their private property.<\/p>\n

Background: The Florida Legislature outlawed full nudity at beaches, and the state then tried closing Haulover\u2019s nude beach in 1994. But Miami-Dade commissioners successfully argued that its public beaches fall under \u201chome rule\u201d and the county took on regulating Haulover. So the nude beach continues and thrives.<\/p>\n

Night visits to the beach \"Crowds Crowds walk up and down Ocean Drive during spring break in Miami Beach on March 18, 2023. Miami Herald File <\/p>\n

Hours: Miami Beach closes its beaches from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Leaders cite the environment and crime. Beaches in Sunny Isles Beach are open sunrise to sunset. Beaches in several cities, including Hollywood and Key Biscayne, are open around the clock, although lifeguards have daytime hours.<\/p>\n

Sleeping: It is illegal to sleep overnight or camp out on public beaches in Florida unless you are at a designated campsite with a permit. Camping spots include Bahia Honda and Long Key state parks in the Florida Keys.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s banned at the beach? \"This This is Fort Lauderdale beach, north of Miami. Miami Herald File <\/p>\n

In addition to smoking, Miami Beach bans:<\/p>\n

\u25aa Narcotics and marijuana<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Large tents, tables or similar structures<\/p>\n

\u25aa Loud music<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Large coolers<\/p>\n

\u25aa Glass containers<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Styrofoam and plastic straws<\/p>\n

Can you drink booze at the beach? \"Key Key West spring breakers stop sunbathing long enough to greet a police horse at Smathers Beach. City of Key West <\/p>\n

Public laws: Miami Beach and other cities have laws against drinking in public, and the beach is as public as you can get. Several beaches in Central and North Florida permit alcohol on the sand.<\/p>\n

Are pets allowed at the beach? \"You You can bring your pet to designated beaches. Miami Herald File <\/p>\n

Dog-friendly beaches: Pets are allowed at designated beaches in Miami-Dade County. They include:<\/p>\n

\u25aa Hobie Beach along the Rickenbacker Causeway near Key Biscayne<\/p>\n

\u200b\u25aa Haulover Park in Northeast Miami-Dade<\/p>\n

\u25aa North Beach Oceanside Park in Miami Beach, known as \u201cBark Beach,\u201d 80th to 81st streets.<\/p>\n

\u25aa Miami Beach at 21st and 53rd streets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Beachgoers can let it all hang out while relaxing. But there are rules. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com It\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357866,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[225,227,226],"class_list":["post-357865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357865\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}