Off-leash dog parks in Charleston
Every place on this page is an official off-leash area listed by the City of Charleston, the Town of Mount Pleasant or Charleston County Parks. Off-leash anywhere else is generally illegal.
Picks by need
- Swimming: County dog parks have separate large-dog and small-dog areas; the James Island County Park dog park has a lake (per Charleston Animal Society’s guide to county parks, PDF; still confirming with CCPRC). James Island County Park Dog Park
- Downtown mornings/evenings: White Point Garden (dawn–9am and 5–11pm), Hazel Parker and Cannon Park (dawn–9am, 5pm–dusk).
- Mt Pleasant: Palmetto Islands County Park (closed Wednesdays until 9am) and the Town’s parks at Memorial Waterfront Park, Marsh View Trail and Carolina Park.
- Beach off-leash: Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms at set hours. See beach rules.
Maintenance closures (county parks)
Palmetto Islands and James Island: closed Wednesdays until 9am. Wannamaker: closed Mondays until 10am (CCPRC).
All official dog parks & off-leash areas (22)
- Ackerman Park Dog Park · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Bees Landing Rec Center Dog Park · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Brittlebank Park Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Cannon Park Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Grove Street Dog Park · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Hazel Parker Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Horse Lot Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Johns Island County Park Dog Park · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Johns Island Park Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Lenevar Park Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Medway Park Fenced Dog Run · Charleston ✓ Official source
- S Adgers Wharf Dog Park · Charleston ✓ Official source
- West Ashley Park Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- White Point Garden Off-Leash Area · Charleston ✓ Official source
- Governor's Park Dog Park · Daniel Island ✓ Official source
- James Island County Park Dog Park · James Island ✓ Official source
- James Island Rec Center Dog Park · James Island ✓ Official source
- Carolina Park Recreation Complex (off-leash area) · Mt Pleasant ✓ Official source
- Marsh View Trail Dog Park · Mt Pleasant ✓ Official source
- Memorial Waterfront Park Dog Park · Mt Pleasant ✓ Official source
- Palmetto Islands County Park Dog Park · Mt Pleasant ✓ Official source
- Wannamaker County Park Dog Park · N. Charleston ✓ Official source
Leash laws to know
- City of Charleston: leash 8 ft max except in posted off-leash areas (City Code § 5-4).
- Mount Pleasant: leashed everywhere in town outside designated dog parks; dogs over 6 months must wear a rabies tag (Town Code ch. 90, Leash Up MTP).
- County parks: 6 ft leash except inside designated off-leash dog parks (CCPRC Rules, Section 8).
Rules change. Check posted signs and the official source before you go. Unverified = listed by a third party but not yet confirmed with the business; call ahead.