VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County council voted Tuesday to make the dog beach in Ormond Beach a permanent fixture.

The county launched the dog-friendly initiative in November 2023 as an 18-month pilot program. They designated a stretch of beach between Milsap Road and Rockefeller Drive — just over a half-mile long — as a dog beach.

The county said the pilot program was a success, addressing the community’s desire to bring their pets to the beach.

During the 18-month period, Volusia County Animal Services observed nearly 13,000 dogs enjoying the beach with their owners and received no reports of significant issues or interactions.

“This is proof council that we can set up a commonsense program with reasonable expectations,” District 4 representative Troy Kent said. 

The county dedicated staff to the program — focusing mainly on compliance with leash laws — for an average of 31 hours per week.

Residents and visitors now have a dedicated section of the beach they can enjoy with their pets, but not everyone is on board with the decision.

John Nicholson, who has been living in the Daytona Beach area for almost 40 years, worries where the dog beach could extend to.

“Initially they wanted to put it by the Bandshell, that’s our busiest area," he said. "It’s difficult for people to walk around. Putting dogs there would be asking for trouble.”

Nanette McKeel Petrella, president of Daytona Dog Beach, Inc., says she's happy with the county council's decision and looks forward to conversations about expansion efforts.

"Hearing from different people, their personal stories, what it meant to them, that inspired us,” she said.

Dog owners must still adhere to the following list of rules:

• Dogs must be leashed, and the leash cannot be longer than 6 feet long
• Owners are expected to immediately clean up after their pets
• While sea turtle nesting season ended on Oct. 31, dogs still may not disturb the dunes or other wildlife
• Dogs must have their current rabies vaccination

The county also has two other dog-friendly beach locations:

• Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet
• Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach

Estimated costs of the program moving forward will be anywhere from $56,000 to $59,000 per year. 

For more information on Volusia’s Dogs on the Beach program, visit here.