Public Works

Junipero Dog Beach

   

Person and a dog at a dog beach

Aerial of the proposed dog beach area, located along the east side of Junipero Beach

  

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Background

Initiated by a City Council directive to identify and evaluate potential locations for a second off-leash dog beach, the City of Long Beach is moving forward with plans to expand opportunities for outdoor recreation with pets in response to strong community interest. Following a comprehensive review of Downtown shoreline sites, the beachfront area just east of the Junipero Beach Sports Court was identified as the most suitable location due to its convenient parking, accessible pedestrian access, and compatibility with other beach activities. 

The new dog beach will offer a safe, accessible and well-managed environment modeled after the success of Rosie's Dog Beach and incorporate best practices for water quality, sand maintenance and environmental protection. 

As part of the project, the City will finalize the boundaries of an approximately four-acre off-leash area, conduct public outreach to gather community input and install educational signage to promote responsible pet ownership and protect coastal resources.

Timeline

Project timeline is set barring weather delays and other unforeseen circumstances.

Objectives

• Expand recreational access
• Implement best practices for water quality, sand management and habitat protection

Project Features

• Establish a four-acre off-leash dog recreation beach zone
• Install educational and regulatory signage that promotes responsible pet ownership and water quality awareness

Project Funding

This project is supported through Tidelands funds.

More Information

• 02.11.2026 Junipero Dog Beach Community Meeting Presentation      

 FAQ's

• Why is a new dog beach being proposed?

  In July 2023, City Council directed staff to evaluate potential locations west of Belmont Shore to improve access for Downtown and central Long Beach residents. Rosie’s Dog Beach is currently the city’s only off-leash dog beach and serves the entire city. It is extremely popular and often operates at or near capacity.
  
  In response to Council’s direction, Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) issued a To-From-For (TFF) memorandum in March 2024 identifying potential locations.  Concurrently, Public Works initiated the planning, environmental and biological studies to validate potential off leash dog recreational zones.  Studies included eelgrass and wildlife surveys. This project responds to a long-standing community interest in equitable distribution of recreational amenities. 

• How will parking and neighborhood impacts be addressed?

  Parking demand was evaluated as part of the planning process, and Junipero Beach was identified as a suitable location in part because it has more parking capacity than nearby alternatives. Although parking lots can feel full during peak summer weekends, City survey data showed that the approximately 350 available spaces reached a peak utilization of 41.5% in July 2025 and are not operating at full capacity. The City recognizes that some visitors will drive, while others, particularly nearby residents, walk to the beach and dog beach amenities, which helps balance demand. Based on current data, significant parking impacts are not anticipated; however, staff will continue to monitor parking conditions and neighborhood effects over time and make operational adjustments, if needed, to ensure the surrounding community is not adversely affected.

• How will safety, enforcement, and rule compliance be managed?

  Safety, enforcement, and rule compliance will be managed through a combination of existing municipal regulations, on-site monitoring, and clear public communication. Current dog beach rules are established in Chapter 6 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code will have to be amended after the Coastal Commission review and consideration of the project. Similar requirements and standards would apply at this location, including posted signage outlining requirements for all visitors.
  
  While most users at Rosie’s Dog Beach comply with the dog beach rules and few serious incidents have been reported, residents will be encouraged to contact the City’s non-emergency line if issues arise. In the event of a serious incident, Marine Safety, who has on site beach presence, is the first to respond with Long Beach Animal Care Services to follow up.
  
  The City also maintains oversight through tools such as the Go Long Beach app, where submitted concerns are tracked and routed directly to the Beach Maintenance team for prompt response, including clean-up or repairs. Based on current monitoring and enforcement practices, the City does not see evidence that a dog beach in this area would create new safety risks, and it will continue to oversee conditions to ensure compliance and community well-being. 

• How will cleanliness, maintenance, and environmental impacts be handled?

  Cleanliness and maintenance will be addressed through established Beach Maintenance operations. The Beach Maintenance team is onsite daily managing hardscape and public areas as part of its standard core services, including routine sweeping and upkeep. Currently, the proposed area is cleaned and sifted on a weekly schedule; however, with the project in place, operations would shift to daily cleaning and sand sifting to maintain sanitary conditions, similar to the Wibit area and Rosie's Dog Beach.
  
  Additionally, questions about potential environmental effects, including increased nitrogen discharge, were evaluated through an environmental study, which found no projected increase in impacts to open water. Overall, the City plans to maintain proactive, routine maintenance and monitoring to ensure the area remains clean, well-managed, and environmentally responsible. 
  

• What are the projected costs and funding sources?

  Ongoing maintenance is estimated at approximately $55,000 annually over the next 10 years. These costs will support enhanced service levels, including more frequent cleaning and sand sifting in high-use areas, as well as supplies such as dog waste bags provided by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine. Since routine cleaning already occurs at the site, the primary change will be an increase in frequency rather than the creation of an entirely new service.
  
  Construction costs are limited, as the project does not include new physical structures; instead, expenses are largely administrative, with an estimated $100,000 allocated for project management time, along with signage and boundary markers. Overall, the funding will support operational enhancements and implementation rather than major capital infrastructure.

• What are the next steps and timeline?

  The next steps and timeline for the project are guided by the Coastal Commission review process. Once the project team submits a Coastal Development Permit application, a review period is conducted affording time for Commission staff and their technical experts to review and request materials.  After Commission staff deems an application is complete and formally files the City’s application, Coastal Commission staff has up to 180 days to bring forward to the Commission for approval. Based on typical Commission  processing times and current workload, the City estimates that the review and approval process will take approximately 9 to 12 months or longer if the Commission determines additional studies are required. This timeline accounts for the Commission’s responsibilities to review applications from multiple cities and private entities, ensuring that all necessary environmental and procedural requirements are met before moving forward. 

Latest Updates

February 2026

A virtual community meeting was held on February 11 to share more information about the Junipero Dog Beach project. Participants received an overview of the project background, proposed location, and anticipated next steps, and had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions and provide feedback.