Cape May County · Cape May County
Dog Waste Removal in Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City's eight miles of oceanfront beach are open to dogs only from Oct. 1 through April 30, and the Boardwalk is off limits to them. Under section 11-4.9 of the city code, owners must pick up right away anywhere but their own property.

- WhereCity of Ocean City
- ZIP codes08226
- SchedulesTwice weekly to monthly
- After a visitA photo of your latched gate
Dog waste removal in Ocean City
Ocean City, from a dog owner's point of view.
Ocean City is a barrier island, with Atlantic beaches on its ocean side, bayside marshes and lagoons on the other, and the Great Egg Harbor Bay off its north end. The Census Bureau estimated 11,219 residents in July 2024, and the city's beach guide calls the oceanfront a year-round destination for walkers, runners, surfers and fishermen.
The city's 2019 master plan reexamination describes 30-foot-wide lots, where front-loaded garages use up curbside parking, along with duplexes and lagoon-front, bay-front and oceanfront lots. Off its owner's property a dog must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and public parks and playgrounds are closed to dogs.
Beach tags are required for anyone 12 or older from early June through Labor Day, lifeguards work from Memorial Day weekend to mid-September, and dogs are banned from every beach from May 1 through Sept. 30. On Oct. 1 the sand reopens to leashed dogs.
Sections of Ocean City
- North End
- The Gardens
- Merion Park
- Ocean Reef

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- Serving Atlantic and Cape May Counties since 2025
Out and about
Where Ocean City dogs play.
Parks, trails and dog runs in and around town, from the town's and county's own pages.
Ocean City Dog Park
45th Street and Haven Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226
A fenced, off-leash park of 42,000 square feet with areas for dogs over 25 lbs, dogs under 25 lbs and a dog run, open 6 a.m. to dusk year-round. Entry takes a Paw Pass ($30 a year for Cape May County residents, $40 for others, $10 a week for visitors) plus a current dog license and rabies certificate. Pooper scooper bags are provided.
Ocean City beaches
Leashed dogs only, from Oct. 1 through April 30, and owners must clean up. The north end from the Ocean City-Longport Bridge to the terminal groin, the northernmost jetty, is closed to dogs from March 15 through Sept. 30.
Corson's Inlet State Park
Bay Ave, County Hwy 619, Ocean City, NJ 08226
A state park created in 1969 to protect one of the last undeveloped stretches of New Jersey oceanfront, with dunes and marine estuaries. Dogs are not allowed from April 1 through Sept. 15, and at other times must stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The park has no trash cans, so carry your dog's waste out.
Good neighbors
Ocean City's pick-up rules.
Pick up right away (section 11-4.9)
It is unlawful for a dog's owner or custodian to let the dog relieve itself on public or private property other than their own unless they immediately remove the waste and put it in a closed container or covered trash receptacle. The city's stormwater page links this section as its pet waste ordinance.
Fines (section 11-4.10)
Violations of the dog control section bring a fine of at least $25 for a first offense in 12 months, at least $75 for a second and at least $150 for a third or later one. The city's 2025 stormwater plan names Code Compliance as the enforcing office.
Leash, parks and playgrounds (sections 11-4.3 and 11-4.4a)
Off its owner's property a dog must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, held by someone able to control it. Dogs are not allowed in any publicly owned park or playground, leashed or not.
Beach season (section 11-4.4b)
No dogs on the beach from May 1 through Sept. 30. From Oct. 1 through April 30 leashed dogs may use it, except that from March 15 through April 30 the code closes the stretch from the Longport Bridge to the terminal groin and the beach between 18th and 34th Streets.
Boardwalk (sections 11-4.4a and 11-7.2)
No dogs on the Boardwalk or its platforms, pavilions, ramps and steps, even if carried or carted. Section 11-7.2 separately bars any animal from the oceanfront Boardwalk at any time.
Why it matters here
Water surrounds Ocean City: the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Egg Harbor Bay, lagoons, tidal marshes such as the Shooting Island wetlands, and Corson's Inlet at the south end. The city's pet waste tip card explains that rain, melting snow and ice carry pet waste to storm drains that empty into the ocean and other waters. There it harms swimming, boating and fishing, and its nutrients feed algae that can rob the water of oxygen. In summer 2025, participants in the city's stormwater program labeled or replaced 90 storm drain labels between 24th and 33rd Streets.
Where we work
Dog Waste Management Pros on Google Maps
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Atlantic County
Cape May County
Also in Cape May County: Upper Township, Marmora, Sea Isle City, Woodbine, Dennis Township, Middle Township, Cape May Court House.
A little local history
Ocean City, then and now.
- 1879
Four Methodist ministers, Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake and William Burrell, chose the island then called Peck's Beach for a Christian retreat and camp meeting. They met under a cedar tree that the city says still stands at 6th Street and Asbury Avenue.
- 1883
The first bridge to the island was built, and the railroad soon followed.
- 1884
The borough of Ocean City was formed from part of Upper Township. It became a city on March 25, 1897.
- 1929
A 1927 fire destroyed a large part of the boardwalk. Work on the Music Pier began in 1928, and the concert hall was dedicated on July 4, 1929.
- 2006
The Ocean City Dog Park at 45th Street and Haven Avenue officially opened in October 2006.
Local favorites
Ocean City's pet businesses.
Vets, groomers and shops that keep local dogs happy. We just handle the other end.
Humane Society of Ocean City
Nonprofit animal shelter with veterinary services
1 Shelter Road, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Around town
Things to do in Ocean City.
Ocean City Music Pier
The city's concert hall at 840 E. Sixth Street stages comedy, musicals, nationally known acts and the Ocean City Pops, whose summer concert series runs from July through October.
Ocean City Municipal Golf Course
A 12-hole, par 37 course at 2600 Bay Avenue designed by Leo Frazier, open from April 1 through Oct. 31.
Dog Days on the Boardwalk
The city introduced Dog Day for Oct. 23, 2021, alongside the Humane Society of Ocean City's Howl-O-Ween Parade, letting leashed dogs onto the Boardwalk for set hours. The October event was listed again for Oct. 24, 2026.
Services in Ocean City
What we do in Ocean City.
Every service we offer is available in Ocean City. Not sure which you need? Get a quick quote and Doug will help.
Reviews
What New Jersey dog families say.
Frequently asked
Ocean City questions, answered.

Do I have to pick up after my dog in Ocean City?
Yes, section 11-4.9 of the city code requires you to remove your dog's waste immediately from any property that is not yours. Put it in a closed container or covered trash can. Fines start at $25 for a first offense and rise to at least $150 by a third.
When can my dog go on the beach in Ocean City?
Leashed dogs may use Ocean City's beaches from Oct. 1 through April 30, as long as owners clean up. Dogs are banned from every beach from May 1 through Sept. 30. Spring closures also start March 15 at the north end by the Longport bridge and, under the city code, between 18th and 34th Streets.
Can I bring my dog on the Ocean City Boardwalk?
No, city code bans dogs from the Boardwalk and its ramps, steps, platforms and pavilions at any time, even if they are carried. The city has made an exception for its October Dog Days event, when leashed dogs may walk the Boardwalk for set hours.
Where can my dog run off leash in Ocean City?
At the Ocean City Dog Park at 45th Street and Haven Avenue, which is fenced and open from 6 a.m. to dusk year-round. Entry requires a Paw Pass, a current dog license and a rabies certificate.
Why does dog waste matter on a barrier island?
Rain, melting snow and ice carry it to storm drains that empty into the ocean and other waters, the city's tip card explains. It warns that pet waste carries microorganisms that can cause bacterial diseases and parasitic infections, plus nutrients that feed algae.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in Egg Harbor Township and serve Atlantic County and nearby Cape May County towns, including Somers Point, Linwood, Ocean City, Upper Township, Sea Isle City and Cape May Court House. Get a quick quote with your ZIP code to check your street.
Do you scoop in the winter?
Yes. Our crew works through the shore's winter weather too.
Still have questions?
Call (609) 356-8999Nearby towns we also serve
- Somers Point
- Longport
- Egg Harbor Township
- Upper Township
- Marmora
- Linwood
Sources for this page
- City of Ocean City: Beach FAQs
- US Census Bureau: population estimates (July 2024)
- City of Ocean City: Master Plan Reexamination (2019)
- Wikipedia: Ocean City
- City of Ocean City: news update
- City of Ocean City: news update
- City of Ocean City: History
- City of Ocean City: Music Pier
- City of Ocean City: Dog Park Paw-Pass application (2025)
- City of Ocean City: Dog Park
- City of Ocean City: news update
- NJDEP: Corson's Inlet State Park (archived copy)
- Ocean City Code, Chapter 11 animals (archived copy, 2024)
- City of Ocean City: Stormwater
- Ocean City Code: pet waste ordinance (eCode360)
- City of Ocean City: pet waste tip card
- City of Ocean City: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (2025)
- City of Ocean City: news update
- Humane Society of Ocean City (archived copy)
- Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce: Humane Society of Ocean City
- City of Ocean City: Municipal Golf Course
- City of Ocean City: news update
- Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce: Dog Days (Oct. 24, 2026)

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