Dogs will be kicked off many of Kent’s most popular beaches from this month to make way for visitors coming to the coast this summer.

The rules, in place between May 1 and September 30, may vary depending on what part of the county you’re in and the time of day - but any dog walker caught breaking the rules risks a £100 fine.

More than 80 penalty notices have been handed out along the coast over the course of the last two summers - so here’s a breakdown of where some of those fines have been issued and where your pets can and can’t go during the next few months in Kent…

CANTERBURY DISTRICT

Canterbury City Council wardens have fined dog walkers on 24 separate occasions for breaching the council’s Public Spaces Protection Order over the course of the past two summers.

Council spokesman Rob Davies explained the authority pursues those owners persistently breaching the restrictions on its beaches.

He said: "As with everything, we strive to find a balance in our enforcement work. And recognising that the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and want to do the right thing, we always seek to educate people in what the rules are instead of wading straight in with a fixed penalty notice (FPN).

"In a small number of cases, though, people continue to break the rules after being asked not to, and in these circumstances our officers will issue a FPN.

"Between May and September 2023, the number was 16, and for the same period in 2024, it was eight.

"In the overall context of the number of people who use our coastline and beaches to exercise their dog, it's a tiny percentage.

"This shows that our overall approach is reasonable and fair and this will continue to be how we carry out this work through the 2025 season."

On its website, Canterbury City Council says most of its coastline is dog friendly, where pets are welcome all year round.

However, two of the district’s most popular stretches don’t allow dogs between May 1 and September 30, and these are:

Herne Bay central

From Herne Bay pier heading west to Lane End, dogs are not allowed on the beach between May and September.

They must also, says the council, be kept on a lead on the promenade.

Tankerton

Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Tankerton on the area which is level with Pier Avenue West to The Street. Pets must again also be kept on a lead on the promenade.

Walkers in Herne Bay said they understood the need for some restrictions.

Tourist and dog owner Tracey Howe, who was visiting the seaside town from Glasgow, said: “I think it’s reasonable to have spaces for dog friendly areas and then spaces that are dog free.

“Some people are frightened of dogs and so I think that’s fair for people to have their own space.”

While John Penlington who was also enjoying the summer weather on the seafront added: “I think it’s probably a good idea because in most places now, seaside resorts, they do have a summer ban.

“And then they are allowed on in the winter months to walk the dogs.”

THANET

With one of the most popular stretches of coastline in the county, and a number of blue flag beaches, Thanet District Council alters the rules for dogs at many of its beaches from May 1.

The local authority, which has been unable to confirm the number of fines issued in previous years because of an IT system upgrade, says on its website that owners risk a £100 on-the-spot fine if caught in breach of its Public Spaces Protection Order.

Between May 1 and September 30 dogs are not allowed, at any time of the day of evening, on the following Thanet beaches:

Ramsgate Main Sands (Harbour end)

Viking Bay, Broadstairs

Margate Main Sands

Minnis Bay (main area), Birchington

Between 10am and 6pm dogs are banned on the following Thanet beaches between May 1 and September 30:

West Bay, Westgate on Sea

St Mildred’s Bay, Westgate on Sea

Botany Bay, Broadstairs

Joss Bay, Broadstairs

Stone Bay, Broadstairs

Dogs must be kept on a lead between 10am and 6pm from May to September in the following places:

Westbrook Bay, Margate

Walpole Bay, Cliftonville

Louisa Bay, Broadstairs

Two areas in the Thanet District – both at Pegwell Bay – can’t have dogs on the beach at any time of the year. This rule applies to the mudflats and the saltmarsh.

Dogs are welcome all year round, at any time of day, on the following Thanet beaches:

Minnis Bay Northern Seawall

Grenham Bay, Birchington

Epple Bay, Birchington

Fulsom Rock, Margate

Sacketts Gap, Cliftonville

Foreness Point, Cliftonville

Palm Bay, Cliftonville

Kingsgate Bay, Broadstairs

Dumpton Gap, Broadstairs

Eastcliff, Ramsgate

Western Undercliff, Ramsgate

But all dogs on promenades adjacent to these beaches should be kept on a lead.

DOVER

Dover District Council handed out 26 fines to dog walkers caught breaking its rules during the last two summers.

In 2023, 16 penalty notices were issued. Last year the figure was 10.

If a PSPO is breached, says the council, owners face a £100 fixed penalty notice - reduced to £75 if paid within 10 days. However, should the fine go unpaid, the maximum penalty at magistrates’ court is £1,000.

Many of Dover’s most popular beaches don’t welcome dogs during the day throughout summer. Here is the council’s guide to the latest restrictions in the district’s coastal spots:

Deal beach

From May 1 to September 30 - between 9am and 6pm - dogs are banned from the stretch of beach from Deal Castle to Sandown Castle.

Dogs on leads are welcome on the pier and on the promenade between the same two points all year round.

Dover beach

Dogs must stay off the beach at Dover Seafront, Waterloo Crescent and Marine Parade between May 1 and September 30, from 9am to 6pm.

Dogs must be on leads all year round on both the promenade and the grassed areas at Dover Seafront, which is from the junction of Union Street roundabout to the roundabout at Jubilee Way and also includes Marine Parade and Granville Gardens.

Sandwich Bay

Dogs are excluded from the Sandwich Bay mud flats and salt marshes and must be kept on a lead on the Princes Bay Golf Course Dunes Path.

Shakespeare Cliff beach

There are no restrictions at Shakespeare Cliff Beach.

St Margaret's Bay

From May 1 to September 30, no dogs are allowed on the beach from the south west end of the slipway to Ness Point between 9am and 6pm.

Dogs must also be on a lead all year round on the promenade, in the car park and in any other amenity areas.

Walmer beach

There are no restrictions at Walmer Beach.

SWALE

Dog walkers on the Isle of Sheppey have been slapped with 13 penalty notices from Swale Borough Council - each one costing £100 - during the course of the last two summers.

There are three coastal areas of the island where dogs are not allowed between May 1 and September 30 while dogs must also be kept on leads along its promenades.

The restrictions are as follows:

Sheerness

The beach, from the headland at Jacob’s Bank eastwards to an imaginary line from the west side of the steps, leading over the sea wall immediately to the east of Sheerness Swimming Pool.

Minster Leas

The beach from the east side of the Playa Public House to the west side of the vehicle ramp leading to the beach opposite the cafe at Sea Side Avenue. However, the PSPO, says the council, does not include the ‘area of grass expanse between the concrete promenade up to the main road on The Leas’.

Leysdown

The area from Stokes Amusements to the west of the beach steps opposite the small roundabout at the seaward end of The Promenade Road, Leysdown.

FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE

Many of Folkestone and Hythe’s sandy beaches are dog-free between May and September - with the district council issuing 20 fines, each demanding £100, to dog walkers since 2023.

A map on the local authority’s website outlines exactly where dogs can be during the summer months.

Anyone who spots a dog and its owner where they shouldn’t be can report the breach to the council via its website.

This, says the authority, can also be done anonymously if preferred.