Off-Leash
Uptown
Designated area only
Yes
About
Chicago's dog beach on Lake Michigan at Montrose — the only officially designated dog beach in the city.
Montrose Beach is the city's dog beach, and the only Dog Friendly Area on the Chicago Park District's list that is an actual beach. Dogs can get in the lake here, which no other DFA offers.
It is the reason plenty of Chicago dog owners drive across the city on a summer morning, and it is busy accordingly.
Off-leash inside the designated area only — dogs must be leashed before entering and on the way out.
Chicago Park District DFA — a permit and tag are required for every dog, renewed annually. Bring a current Chicago dog license or proof of rabies vaccination, vaccination records (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella, leptospirosis) and a recent fecal test. Fee note: the Park District lists $10 per dog per year, the city's Animal Care and Control FAQ lists $5 — confirm before you go. Rules: three dogs per person max, no puppies under four months, no dogs in heat, no food inside the gates. NOT YET VERIFIED: whether the dog beach is seasonal or open year-round, the exact boundaries of the dog area within the beach, parking, and whether lake conditions or algae closures apply. Check the Park District before a first visit. Also note the Montrose Point bird sanctuary sits immediately north — dogs are not permitted there. Details checked 2026-09-22.
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Montrose Beach Dog Friendly Area