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.
Once you accept the terms and conditions that pop up Intramaps will open. Scroll down the map layers list on the left of the screen and click the check box next to the 'Dogs – Restrictions' layer to turn it on. The dog restriction information will now appear on the map display. Click the + sign next to the layer to open up the legend - this shows you what the information in the dog restriction layer means. You can now zoom in and out and pan around the map (using your mouse or the navigation tools) to view the information.
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)
