Dogs in public places are required to be on a leash and under the effective control of a competent person.
Animals must be kept under direct supervision and control, even when they are off their leash in designated leash-free areas. These locations are signposted and advertised on this website.
Owners who fail to keep their dogs leashed in public places (leash-free areas excepted) or take their dogs into prohibited places can attract substantial on-the-spot fines.
Where dogs are prohibited
- Children's play apparatus
- Public areas, reserves and beaches (where signposted)
- School grounds
- Public food preparation areas
- Public bathing areas (where signposted)
- Shopping areas (where signposted)
- Wildlife protection areas
and the following beaches:
| Sawtell Main Beach | Sawtell Reserve |
| Sawtell Rock Pool | Jetty Beach |
| Park Beach | Park Beach Reserve |
| Emerald Beach (southern end) | Diggers Beach |
| Sandy Beach | Woolgoolga Beach (southern end) |
Beaches where dogs are allowed on leads
| Sawtell Beach (north)(Murray's Beach) | Charlesworth Bay |
| Korora Beach | Hills Beach |
| Campbells Beach | Sapphire Beach |
| Moonee Beach | Safety Beach |
| Mullaway Beach | Ocean View Beach (Mullawarra) |
| Arrawarra Beach | Red Rock Beach |
| Little Beach | Corindi Beach (north of Ocean Street) |
Beaches and Reserves where dogs are allowed off leads
| Boambee Beach | Thompsons Road Reserve |
| North Wall Beach Coffs Harbour | Emerald Beach (north of Fiddamans Creek) |
| Hearns Lake Beach* | Woolgoolga Back Beach |
| Darkum Beach* | Corindi/Pipeclay Beach (south of Ocean Street) |
Animals must be kept under direct supervision and control even when not on a lead.
*Please note that these beaches are subject to seasonal restrictions during Little Tern breeding season. When the breeding area is signposted dogs must remain on a leash at all times.
Maps
You can use Council's online mapping tool to see detailed maps containing more information about a particular area's location and classification. Areas marked in red are dog prohibited areas, areas marked in green are leash free areas. The area marked in grey is a leashed area during Little Tern breeding season.
Picking up after your pet
Dog waste must be picked up in public areas. Animal faeces pose a potential threat to the community as well as an environmental hazard. Failure to pick up after your pet can also attract a substantial on-the-spot fine.
Biodegradable dog waste bags are now available for free at dispensers located at the following beaches and parks in Coffs Harbour.
- Arrawarra Beach
- Mullawarra Beach
- Mullaway Beach
- Darkum Beach (via Darkum Headland Rd)
- Hearns Lake Beach (main access point at Hearns Lake)
- Emerald Beach (near leash-free area north of Fiddamans Creek)
- Moonee Beach
- Sapphire Beach
- Korora Bay Beach
- Thompsons Park (on Thompsons Rd)
