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Carlsbad council asks staff to return with options on allowing dogs in parks/beaches and to study potential dog-park sites
Summary
After a staff review of current rules, the council unanimously directed staff to return with an agenda item that explores allowing leashed dogs in parks and certain beaches, updates cost estimates, and studies potential new off-leash dog-park sites citywide.
The City Council requested staff return with a formal agenda item to evaluate whether and how to allow dogs in parks and beaches, and to update cost estimates and outreach plans for any changes.
Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster and Assistant Police Chief Reid Shipley presented current rules: county health and sanitation provisions govern leash laws and the city has adopted the San Diego County code by reference for animal control; Carlsbad Municipal Code chapter 11.32 currently prohibits dogs in parks and beaches, subject to several exceptions (authorized dog parks, assistance animals, authorized shows or classes, and portions of trails designated for leashed dogs per the Carlsbad Trails Master Plan adopted in February 2019). Staff noted that the Upper Seawall (portions) is considered a trail or sidewalk where leashed dogs are allowed, while the Lower Seawall is limited to pedestrians.
Assistant Chief Shipley said enforcement is primarily by the San Diego Humane Society for bite-related incidents and by the Carlsbad Police Department and two parks rangers for municipal-code concerns; the department favors an education-first enforcement posture and noted that additional dogs in parks could increase bite-related incidents handled by the Humane Society.
Staff surveyed 17 county cities and found all permit dogs in at least some parks; some cities allow leash dogs at select beaches. Staff said earlier cost estimates from 2022 for allowing dogs in parks were roughly $50,000 in initial costs (signage, dog-waste stations) and approximately $250,000 in ongoing annual sanitation costs; council asked staff to update those figures to current dollars and return with a formal staff report.
Councilmembers discussed carving out exceptions — for example, allowing leashed dogs on the Upper Seawall but not the sand beach, or permitting dogs on passive turf areas but not on organized sports fields — and asked staff to inventory city-owned pocket parks and investigate potential dog-park sites (Pio Pico Park was mentioned as a possible location requiring fencing and infrastructure). The council unanimously approved a motion asking staff to return with a comprehensive report and staff also received a separate direction to inventory city sites that might accommodate additional dog parks.
