San Clemente to again discuss allowing dogs on North Beach, but only for residents

San Clemente will once again discuss allowing dogs on the beach, an idea that was voted down in 2021.

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending the city allow dogs off leash at North Beach from 6 to 8 a.m. daily, as well as prioritize funding for off-leash dog parks at San Luis Rey and San Gorgonio parks.

The City Council will review a report by the commission and will give direction on how to proceed during its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission’s 2023-24 Work Plan, which was approved by the City Council in September, included a review and consideration of allowing dog access on city beaches and a review of options to expand off-leash dog locations.

The commission then voted to recommend the council consider amending the municipal code to allow for dogs on the beach, but with restrictions.

In addition to the two-hour, morning-only time limits, the recommendation includes access being limited to San Clemente residents and all dogs must be licensed through the Coastal Animal Services Agency, the commission is recommending.

Signage would be posted that dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs, including cleaning up fecal waste, according to the staff report.

Dog access on the beach would require an analysis of any environmental impacts, as well as Coastal Commission consideration.

Allowing dogs on the beach has been debated topic through the years, in the ’80s and ’90s the city voted to uphold prohibition of dogs on the beach.

In 2008, the rec commission created a dog access sub-committee, which held public workshops in 2011.

At that time, the Coastal Advisory Committee did not support a pilot program, citing issues with health, safety, cleanliness, enforcement, environmental issues, location, and hours available on the beach.

In 2012, because of diminishing beach space for the public, the council voted to defer discussion about increasing dog access.

In 2016, the commission went back to the drawing board and asked staff to research options of allowing dogs on-leash on beaches, during specific hours. Some of the topics that were discussed were enforcement, how the beaches are narrowing, liability of dogs on the beach, dog waste on the beach and impacts on lifeguards.

In 2021, the commission again considered options to allow for dog access on city beaches, holding a public survey. Ultimately, the commission recommended unanimously that the council uphold the current rules and regulations to not allow dog access to San Clemente beaches.

After discussion, the council that same year voted down 3-2 allowing dogs during 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a portion of the city’s beach.

Coastal Advisory Committee member Susan Ambrose at the time said the group agreed with the vote, citing possible impact to water quality.

“It’s important to keep in mind the water quality regulations for which the city must comply with to protect the health of beachgoers. The potential implications of introducing another bacterial source – like dog feces for example – causes some concern,” she said in 2021. “We are charged with the protection of human health, complying with various environmental regulations and avoiding potential enforcement action.”

Orange County’s other beach cities have mixed rules and regulations for dog access on the beach. Laguna Beach has no dog beach, but dogs on a leash are allowed on city beaches before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. during summer months and during regular beach hours from Sept. 11 through June. 14.

In Newport Beach, dogs are not allowed between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., but leashed dogs outside of those hours are allowed.

At nearby Capistrano Beach, dogs are not permitted from June 15 to Sept. 10 between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the county also requires dogs on leash, but they are allowed in the water.

Huntington Dog Beach is a designated on-leash dog beach, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Currently, the city has one off-leash dog park at Richard T. Steed Memorial Park, the Baron Von Willard Dog Park, which offers one side for large dogs and another side for smaller dogs.

The discussion at the upcoming City Council meeting will also consider allowing off-leash dogs at San Luis Rey Park and San Gorgonio Park.

In 2021, the city initiated a site-specific master plan update of five parks, including Bonito Canyon, Linda Lane, San Gorgonio, San Luis Rey and Richard T. Steed Memorial parks. Through public outreach, the crop was narrowed down to San Luis Rey Park and San Gorgonio Park as potential locations for dogs playing off leash.