We checked 10 East Sussex beaches, including Brighton and Hove, against council and wildlife trust pages. Eastbourne, Bexhill, Seaford and Camber ban dogs on their main stretches from 1 May to 30 September, and Hastings starts earlier, on 1 April. Brighton and Hove works the other way round in summer, allowing dogs only on beaches marked as dog friendly on its map.
I want to be upfront about what this page is. Five councils cover this coast, some publish their zones only as maps we could not read, and a few of our sources are not councils, so we name the source on every card with the date we checked. If you are planning a full day out, our guide to local dog walks in East Sussex sets out the walks we checked outside Brighton and Hove.
The rules in short
The usual pattern is a ban on the central resort beaches from 1 May to 30 September, with dogs welcome from October to April and a lead on the promenade. Hastings is the exception, starting on 1 April. Our East Sussex area guide explains what each service covers. Councils can change their orders, so read the signs on the day.
Summer bans
At these beaches dogs are not allowed in the dates shown, and are allowed outside them. If you want an off-lead run away from the seafront, secure dog fields in East Sussex are worth a look.
Seaford seafront beach — Seaford
Dogs not allowed from 1 May to 30 September on the beach from West View to the ice cream van at Edinburgh Road, and dogs should be on a lead on the promenade in the same stretch. This comes from the town council’s page, dated 2023.
Source: Seaford Town Council, “Seafront Doggie Do’s and Don’ts” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Eastbourne main beach — Eastbourne
Dogs banned from 1 May to 30 September between the Wish Tower and the Pier.
Source: Lewes & Eastbourne Councils, “Beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Bexhill beach — Bexhill-on-Sea
Dogs prohibited from 1 May to 30 September from Brockley Road (Sovereign Light Café) to Sea Road (Sailing Club). Dogs must be on a lead on the promenade between groynes 34 and 78. A 2023 council decision to extend the ban further east is on record, but we could not confirm it is in force, so check the signs.
Source: Rother District Council, “Bexhill and Cooden” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Hastings beach — Hastings
Dogs not allowed from 1 April to 30 September (note the earlier start) in two zones: from the west of the Harbour Arm to the east side of Hastings Pier, and from the west end of Bottle Alley to opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel. Dogs must be on a lead on the promenade at all times, and the rest of the beach is open from 1 October to 31 March.
Source: Hastings Borough Council, “Dog PSPO” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Camber Sands — Camber
Dogs not permitted in the zoned areas from 1 May to 30 September. The zone boundaries are on a council map we could not read, so check the signs for where dogs can go.
Source: Rother District Council, beaches page and Camber dog zones notice (checked 8 November 2026)
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Dogs allowed all year
The council lists these beaches as welcoming dogs.
Holywell and Falling Sands — Eastbourne
Dogs welcome but must be kept under control. The council’s wording for East Beach, which also mentions leads from 1 May to 30 September, is unclear, so check the signs there.
Source: Lewes & Eastbourne Councils, “Beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Lead rule
Here dogs are welcome, with conditions.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve — Rye Harbour
Dogs on a lead between the reserve entrance at Rye Harbour village and the end of the path by the river mouth, and under close control elsewhere. Dogs must be on a lead around grazing livestock. The page does not mention the shingle beach itself or give dates.
Source: Sussex Wildlife Trust, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (not the council) (checked 8 November 2026)
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Reported as dog-friendly (tourism source only)
A tourism site says dogs are allowed all year here, but we found no council page to back it up.
Peacehaven beach — Peacehaven
Reported as allowing dogs all year, with leads on paths and erosion notices that may apply. We found no council page, so check the signs.
Source: UK Beach Days (tourism site) (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Dates to check before you travel
Here the rule is unclear or we could not read the map, so we have listed the beach with the reason rather than leave it out. Please double-check on the council website.
Brighton and Hove beaches — Brighton and Hove
From 1 May to 30 September dogs can only use the beaches that Brighton & Hove marks as dog friendly on its map. From 1 October to 30 April dogs are permitted on all beaches. We could not read the map, and newspaper lists of the summer dog-friendly sections are unclear for central Brighton, so check the council map before you go. A 2026 council order on dog exclusion also exists that we could not read.
Source: Brighton & Hove City Council, “Dog-friendly beaches” (checked 8 November 2026)
View on Google Maps
Cuckmere Haven — Seaford
The country park says dogs must be under close control, on a lead near livestock, wildlife, cliffs and open water, and kept at least 5 metres from the cliff edge and base. It gives no specific beach rule, and the ground-nesting season runs from March to September, so follow the signs and roped-off areas.
Source: Seven Sisters Country Park, dog guidance (park operator) (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 rule for Newhaven, Telscombe or Birling Gap, so they have no cards. There is no separate Brighton and Hove guide on the site yet. For a swim, our guide to dog swimming spots in Sussex covers places built for a proper dip, and it is worth knowing where your nearest vet is before a coastal trip.
Staying overnight? Our dog-friendly stays in East Sussex 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
Which East Sussex beaches ban dogs in summer?
Eastbourne (Wish Tower to the Pier), Bexhill, Seaford and the zoned areas at Camber Sands ban dogs from 1 May to 30 September. Hastings bans dogs in two zones from 1 April to 30 September.
Can I take my dog on Brighton beach in summer?
Only on the sections marked dog friendly. Brighton & Hove City Council says that from 1 May to 30 September dogs can use only those beaches, and from 1 October to 30 April they are permitted on all beaches. Check the council map before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Camber Sands?
Not in the zoned areas from 1 May to 30 September, according to Rother District Council. The zone boundaries are on a map, so check the signs for where dogs can go.
Why does Hastings start its dog ban earlier?
Hastings Borough Council bans dogs in two zones from 1 April to 30 September, a month earlier than most East Sussex councils, which start on 1 May. Check the signs for the zone limits.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
