We checked 6 beach areas on the County Durham and Tees coast against three councils. Durham has no beach dog ban, only a lead on request from an officer. Hartlepool bans dogs from 1 May to 30 September on the Headland sands and at Seaton Carew, and Redcar and Cleveland excludes them from stretches of Redcar and Saltburn beaches in the same months.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. Three councils meet on this stretch of coast, and we could not confirm every order date, so we name the source on every card with the date we checked. Hartlepool, Redcar and Saltburn are covered here because they sit on the same coast walk. If you are planning a full day out, our guide to local dog walks in County Durham sets out the walks we checked.
The rules in short
County Durham is the easy part, with no beach ban. The bans start as you head south into Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland. Our County Durham area guide explains what each service covers. Always read the signs, because councils can change their orders.
County Durham: no beach ban
Durham County Council has no summer ban on its beaches. If you want an off-lead run away from the sand, secure dog fields in County Durham are worth a look.
Seaham beaches
No beach dog ban. A proposed 10am to 3pm summer ban on the slope beach was dropped in 2023. Dogs must go on a lead only if an authorised officer directs. The county order ran to 31 May 2026, and we found only a proposal to extend it to 30 June 2028.
Source: Durham County Council, public spaces protection order review 2023 (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Heritage Coast beaches
The council does not name these beaches, so we have listed them with the reason.
Easington, Horden, Blackhall Rocks and Crimdon — Heritage Coast
The council says it proposed no dog controls for the other beaches in the area, but it does not name these four. A lead only if an authorised officer directs applies countywide. We found no National Trust or Natural England rule, including for the little terns at Crimdon, so check the signs.
Source: Durham County Council, public spaces protection order review 2023 (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Summer bans in Hartlepool, Redcar and Saltburn: 1 May to 30 September
These sit in the Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland council areas, not County Durham. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Durham may help.
Hartlepool Headland: Block Sands and Fish Sands
Dogs banned every year from 1 May to 30 September. The council page gives no times of day, so we treat it as all day, and it does not describe the rules outside those dates.
Source: Hartlepool Borough Council, “Beach ban for dogs” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Seaton Carew — Hartlepool
Dogs banned from 1 May to 30 September on the stretch from the Norton Hotel to the Coach Park. We found no rule for the rest of Seaton Carew or North Gare.
Source: Hartlepool Borough Council, “Beach ban for dogs” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Redcar central beach
Dogs excluded from the central beach between the lines of the Regent cinema and Graffenberg Street from 1 May to 30 September, and an officer can require a dog to leave. No times are stated. Dogs are permitted outside those months. The order was renewed to 30 June 2028.
Source: Redcar & Cleveland Council, public spaces protection order renewal (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Saltburn beach — Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Dogs excluded from the stretch west of the Hazelgrove beach access to the east side of the pier, from 1 May to 30 September. The beach east of the pier is not covered by the exclusion. The order was renewed to 30 June 2028.
Source: Redcar & Cleveland Council, public spaces protection order renewal (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
What we could not confirm
The council pages give no postcodes, so we show a Google Maps link for every beach instead, and we have left dog bins and parking out rather than guess. We found no individual rule for Hawthorn Dene, Dawdon, Easington Colliery or Seaham Harbour, and none for Marske or the parts of Redcar outside the excluded stretch, so they have no cards. We could not read the decision on extending the Durham order beyond 31 May 2026, and we found no Hartlepool order dates. It is worth knowing where your nearest vet is before a coastal trip.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in County Durham list places that publish their dog policy.
Busy beaches can be exciting for a dog. If yours finds crowds unsettling, the Calmdogs calming bites are a complementary feed some owners keep for days out, though for ongoing anxiety it’s best to speak to your vet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs banned on Seaham beach?
No. Durham County Council dropped a proposed summer ban on the slope beach in 2023. Dogs must be on a lead only if an authorised officer directs.
Which Hartlepool beaches ban dogs in summer?
Hartlepool Borough Council bans dogs every year from 1 May to 30 September on the Headland sands (Block Sands and Fish Sands) and at Seaton Carew between the Norton Hotel and the Coach Park.
Can I take my dog on Redcar beach?
Outside 1 May to 30 September, yes. In those months dogs are excluded from the central beach between the Regent cinema and Graffenberg Street lines, and an officer can require a dog to leave.
Are dogs allowed at Saltburn beach?
Yes, except on the stretch west of the Hazelgrove access to the east side of the pier from 1 May to 30 September. The beach east of the pier is not covered by the exclusion.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
