The City of Los Angeles runs 13 official off-leash dog parks, from the Westminster Dog Park a few blocks from Venice Beach to the Sepulveda Basin in the San Fernando Valley. They're free, but LA has rules you won't find in most cities: dogs must be licensed, and — under city law — spayed or neutered, and no food or treats are allowed inside.
In this guide
This guide lists all 13 city dog parks by area, explains the rules posted at every gate, and covers the LA-specific hazards — heat, foxtails, coyotes and rattlesnakes — that matter more here than almost anywhere else.
All 13 City of LA dog parks
This is the Department of Recreation and Parks' official list. It covers parks inside the City of Los Angeles only; neighboring cities like Santa Monica, Culver City, Pasadena and Long Beach run their own.
| Dog park | Address | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster Dog Park | 1234 Pacific Avenue, Venice, 90291 | Westside / Venice |
| Glen Alla Dog Park | 4601 Alla Rd., Marina Del Rey, 90292 | Westside |
| Veterans' Barrington Park | 333 South Barrington Ave., 90049 | Brentwood |
| Westwood Dog Park | 1350 Sepulveda Blvd, 90025 | Westwood |
| Runyon Canyon Dog Park | 2000 N Fuller Avenue, 90046 | Hollywood Hills |
| Laurel Canyon Dog Park | 8260 Mulholland Dr, 90046 | Hollywood Hills / Studio City |
| Griffith Park Dog Park | North end of John Ferraro Soccer Field, North Zoo Drive, 90027 | Griffith Park |
| Silverlake Dog Park | 1863 Silver Lake Blvd, 90026 | Silver Lake |
| Eagle Rock Dog Park | 1100 Eagle Vista Drive, 90041 | Northeast LA |
| Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco Dog Park | 5566 Via Marisol, 90042 | Northeast LA |
| Ross Snyder Dog Park | 1501 East 41st St., 90011 | South LA |
| Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park | 17550 Victory Blvd., Encino, 91406 | San Fernando Valley |
| Whitnall Off-Leash Dog Park | 5801 1/2 Whitnall Highway, North Hollywood, 91601 | San Fernando Valley |
Choosing a park by area
Westside: Venice, Marina Del Rey, Brentwood, Westwood
The Westside has four city dog parks, the most of any part of LA. Westminster in Venice is the one closest to the beach — about 0.8 acres by OpenStreetMap's outline — and fills up fast on weekends. Veterans' Barrington Park in Brentwood and the Westwood Dog Park on Sepulveda Boulevard serve the neighborhoods along the 405, and Glen Alla covers Marina Del Rey.
The ocean breeze makes the Westside the most comfortable part of LA for a midday visit in summer.
The Hollywood Hills: Runyon and Laurel Canyon
These two are the most famous — and the most different from a typical dog park.
Runyon Canyon is a hillside park with steep trails and big views, where dogs share space with hikers. It's a workout for you as much as for your dog, and it's hot and exposed: there's little shade on the trails.
Laurel Canyon, on Mulholland Drive, is a fenced park on the ridge between Hollywood and Studio City. It's popular with the local dog community, so expect a crowd at the usual after-work hours.
Central and Northeast LA: Griffith, Silver Lake, Eagle Rock, Hermon
The Griffith Park Dog Park sits at the north end of the John Ferraro Soccer Field on North Zoo Drive, near the LA Zoo side of the park — not near the Observatory, which confuses first-time visitors. Silverlake Dog Park, about 1.2 acres, is next to the Silver Lake Reservoir, so a lap around the reservoir path on leash makes a good warm-up.
In Northeast LA, Eagle Rock and Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco are neighborhood favorites, and Hermon's location along the Arroyo Seco makes it easy to combine with a walk.
The Valley and South LA
Sepulveda Basin in Encino is the San Fernando Valley's main dog park, inside the large Sepulveda Basin recreation area. Whitnall in North Hollywood has two fenced sections under the power lines along Whitnall Highway, around 1.7 acres combined.
Ross Snyder on East 41st Street is the only city dog park in South LA, which says a lot about how unevenly dog parks are spread across the city.
The rules at every LA dog park
The city posts the same set of rules at each park, most of them tied to the LA Municipal Code (LAMC). The ones that catch people out:
| Rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| All dogs must be spayed or neutered (LAMC 53.15.2) | LA's spay/neuter ordinance applies in dog parks too. Intact dogs aren't permitted. |
| Licensed, vaccinated, wearing collar and tags (LAMC 53.21, 53.51, 53.28) | Applies to every dog over four months old. |
| No food or treats inside | The city says it directly: food can lead to aggression. |
| No puppies under four months | For the puppy's own health. |
| No females in any stage of heat (LAMC 53.29) | A common trigger for fights. |
| Never leave your dog unattended (LAMC 53.10, 53.12) | Unattended dogs can be taken to the shelter. |
| Leash on in the parking area (LAMC 53.06.2) | Off leash only inside the dog park itself. |
| Exchange tag and phone details after any bite or injury (LAMC 53.29, 53.38) | Required, not optional. |
Also posted: no smoking, no alcohol, no glass, no grooming, no bikes or skateboards, only dogs (no other pets), and small children must be closely supervised. Commercial dog walkers need a permit.
LA-specific hazards
Heat
Inland LA — the Valley especially — regularly runs far hotter than the coast. On summer afternoons, pavement and dirt can burn paws. Go early in the morning or near sunset, bring water, and remember that hillside parks like Runyon have very little shade.
Foxtails
Foxtails are the barbed seed heads of wild grasses that dry out across Southern California in late spring and summer. They can work their way into paws, ears, noses and eyes, and they don't come out on their own. After a visit to any park with dry grass, check between your dog's toes and inside the ears. Head shaking, sneezing fits or constant paw licking after a walk are reasons to see a vet.
Coyotes
Coyotes live throughout LA, and they're most often seen around hillside and canyon parks at dawn and dusk. Keep small dogs close at those hours, especially on trails outside fenced areas.
Rattlesnakes
On hillside trails like Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park, rattlesnakes are active in warm months. Keep your dog on the trail and out of brush, and if your dog is bitten, go straight to an emergency vet.
What about the beach?
Dogs are not allowed on most beaches in Los Angeles County. The best-known exception is Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach, an off-leash dog zone run by the City of Long Beach — check its current hours before you go. Westminster Dog Park in Venice is the closest city dog park to the sand.
Frequently asked questions
How many dog parks does Los Angeles have?
The City of LA's Department of Recreation and Parks lists 13 off-leash dog parks. Other cities in LA County, such as Santa Monica and Pasadena, have their own.
Does my dog need to be neutered to use an LA dog park?
Yes. The rules posted at City of LA dog parks require all dogs to be spayed or neutered, citing the city's spay/neuter ordinance (LAMC 53.15.2).
Can I bring treats to an LA dog park?
No. Food and treats are not allowed inside City of LA dog parks.
Is Runyon Canyon off leash?
Runyon Canyon is on the city's official dog park list. Follow the posted signs for where dogs may be off leash, and keep your dog leashed in parking areas.
Which LA dog park is closest to the beach?
Westminster Dog Park, at 1234 Pacific Avenue in Venice.
Sources: City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Dog Parks list and posted rules (as published May 2026). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Rules change — always read the sign at the gate.
