Update to an earlier report: This article includes new information about a story we previously covered. Read our earlier report.
Tybee Island City Council approved a one-season pilot Thursday that would allow leashed dogs on a designated beach stretch from Nov. 21 through Feb. 28, 2027. The trial would create a temporary exception to the island’s current prohibition on pets at the beach.
The permitted area runs from the Pier to Chatham, with dogs allowed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Leashes are required throughout the pilot. Under the existing rule, a person found with a pet on the beach can face a $300 fine.
Putting the pilot in place will require the city to install waste stations at beach crossovers, add temporary signs and develop a virtual permit through its parking app.
City officials said the pilot would have to end if beach renourishment begins. They also said they do not want the trial to jeopardize the renourishment program.
Residents voiced differing views. Opponents raised concerns about added trash and potential harm to native wildlife. One Tybee resident said some beachgoers already struggle to follow the expectation to leave only footprints, and questioned whether leash and waste rules would be followed. Supporters described the pilot as a possible way to attract more visitors and business during the off-season.
Allowing dogs on the beach has been discussed on Tybee for more than a decade, according to the source report.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
