Miami is a great place to live and one of the top pet-friendly cities because of the weather and walkability. You can get outside almost year-round as it doesn’t get too cold during the winter. This is one of the reasons Tractor Supply Co. named it as the fourth most dog-friendly city in the U.S.
Trails, parks, and sidewalks are plentiful in Miami. You won’t have to go far from home to walk your dog. Trees and groves provide shade to keep you and your pet from overheating when outside. Or you can head down to a dog beach for a change of pace! Find the best neighborhoods to live with a pet and the pet-friendly features that make them so great.
The most pet-friendly neighborhoods in Miami are:
- Brickell
- Wynwood
- Upper East Side South
- Southwest Coconut Grove
- Edgewater
- Little Havana
- Northeast Coconut Grove
- Overtown
- Park West
- Upper East Side North
Brickell
- Average rent: $3,070/month
- Top pet destination: The Underline
- Popular dog park: Dog Park at Bayfront Park
If you love to go out to eat, be sure to bring your pet as Brickell has many pet-friendly restaurants. Let the waterfront of Biscayne Bay enhance the taste of your food at Crazy About You or enjoy the calm Miami River at American Social. Walk off dinner on the River Walk Trial that winds along the Miami River and past Mary Brickell Park on Biscayne Bay.
You can travel up to the Bayfront Dog Park or Biscuit’s Dog Park, but there are plenty of parks and trails throughout Brickell to get your pet the daily exercise they need. Simpson Park is a lush natural retreat that preserves a tropical hardwood hammock full of native plants. The Underline (previously the M-Path Trail) runs under Miami’s Metrorail and is becoming a major destination for walking and hanging out with your dog. Stay cool with the breeze of the water as you walk around Brickell Key Triangle.
Wynwood
- Average rent: $2,910/month
- Top pet destination: Cielito Artison Pops
- Popular dog park: Dog Park at Margaret Pace Park
Explore the colorful murals and street art that Wynwood is known for with your pet. Get a bite to eat at Joey’s Wynwood Café and sit at one of their outdoor tables. Afterwards, check out Cielito Artisan Pops that serves pops for both humans and their pups.
If you’re looking for a dog park, Margaret Pace Dog Park is only a five-to-ten-minute drive away. The park itself is also a beautiful place to walk your dog. Palm trees line the paved trails, and the breeze keeps everything cool.
Upper East Side South
- Average rent: $2,498/month
- Top pet destination: Morningside Park
- Popular dog park: Legion Memorial Dog Park
Upper East Side South has beautiful views of Biscayne Bay from every corner. It is a walkable neighborhood so you can take your pet everywhere with you. While the area is primarily residential, along Biscayne Boulevard is Andiamo! Brick Oven Pizza that serves delicious pizza and a water bowl for your pet on the patio.
Take a stroll down to Morningside Park and explore the stunning waterfront and paved trails under trees and through lush lawns. If you live in an apartment in the south of the neighborhood, there are a couple of small parks nearby that provide a great place to walk your dog. Or take a quick car trip to the Legion Memorial Park Dog Park where you pooch can run off-leash.
You can’t go wrong with any of the grooming and pet service options in Upper East Side South. Paw’s PetLand offers the full package of grooming, spa, salon, daycare, and boutique with the cutest dog clothing! Miami Dog Spaw & Daycare ensures your pet doesn’t feel overwhelmed whether they are getting groomed or staying for the day.
Southwest Coconut Grove
- Average rent: $2,053/month
- Top pet destination: Glass & Vine
- Popular dog park: Blanche Park Dog Park
Southwest Coconut Grove is mostly green spaces and homes, with an urban center along Grand Avenue near Dinner Key. This area is home to all the pet-friendly restaurants and pet services you could want. Glass & Vine boasts a menu specially crafted for canine companions. Lulu is the perfect meeting spot with a spacious outdoor seating area — and you can bring your dog too!
Blanche Park is the spot for dogs in Coconut Grove. It is only 10 minutes away from Southeast Coconut Grove, making it a convenient location for off-leash fun. For long walks, the Commodore Trail travels through the neighborhood and its parks, like Ingraham Park, before connecting with the Old Cutler Trail. Regardless of which trail you take, keep an eye on your pet. Take breaks when they get tired and give them (and you) plenty of water.
Edgewater
- Average rent: $2,704/month
- Top pet destination: Pinocchio on the Bay
- Popular dog park: Dog Park at Margaret Pace Park
If you like the Wynwood lifestyle but want to be on the water, then Edgewater is the neighborhood for you. You can enjoy the water multiple ways, whether eating at the elegant Amara at Paraiso or taking a private boat tour.
Margaret Pace Park is one of the highlights of Edgewater. This 8-acre park has trails running next to the water and around the entire park. The Dog Park at Margaret Pace Park is one of the largest dog parks near Downtown Miami with a space for both big and small dogs. After a romp at the dog park, rest and recharge at an outdoor table at Pinocchio on the Bay.
Little Havana
- Average rent: $1,554/month
- Top pet destination: Bark at the Park with the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park
- Popular dog park: Salvadore Dog Run
Little Havana is a huge neighborhood where you can give your pet a different experience every day. For a nature-focused trip, Sewell Park is a lush green space on the Miami River. Getting to a dog park is quick from Little Havana. If you live on the west side, the Salvadore Dog Run is closer, while east side residents are closer to the Dog Park at Bayfront Park.
Treat your dog to some city fun by taking them to Calle Ocho (Southwest 8th Street), the heart of Little Havana. Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina and El Pub Restaurant have tons of outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. When it’s baseball season, cheer with your dog during Bark at the Park with the Miami Marlins.
Northeast Coconut Grove
- Average rent: $2,407/month
- Top pet destination: The Commodore Trail
- Popular dog park: Coconut Grove Dog Park at David T. Kennedy Park
Northeast Coconut Grove surrounds you with nature and water as it is a beachfront neighborhood but city fun is not far. There are numerous parks and trails throughout the neighborhood. The Commodore Trail is a great place to walk your dog and, as it goes throughout the entire neighborhood, it is never far no matter where you live.
To the north is Alice Wrainwright Park with a nice trail next to the water. David T. Kennedy Park offers trails under the trees and through the grass as well as the Coconut Grove Dog Park.
Have fun with your pet at the cluster of stores and restaurants on Grand Avenue. Window shop with your pooch at CocoWalk and then take advantage of the plentiful outdoor seating there to get a meal. After eating, walk down to several parks on the waterfront, including Peacock Park, Regatta Park, and Kenneth M. Myers Bayside Park.
Overtown
- Average rent: $1,741/month
- Top pet destination: Candela y Café Market
- Popular dog park: Dog Park at Bayfront Park
Overtown is a lively neighborhood full of historic buildings, colorful murals, intriguing museums, active community gardens, and festive events. Bring your dog to Candela y Café Market, where you can enjoy a wrap at the outdoor tables.
You aren’t far from Downtown Miami, which offers even more pet-friendly fun. Bayfront Park, Maruice A. Ferré Park, and the Miami Riverwalk offer water views while you walk your dog. Let your dog socialize and play off-leash at the Dog Park at Bayfront Park. Stop by one of the many restaurants with pet-friendly outdoor seating to refuel.
Park West
- Average rent: $3,401/month
- Top pet destination: Dogs and Cats Walkway & Sculpture Garden
- Popular dog park: Dog Park at Maurice A. Ferré Park
Even with its small size, Park West has a lot packed in. Maurice A. Ferré Park is blocks away from your home, and the Dogs and Cats Walkway & Sculpture Gardens is a fun place to introduce your pet to their inanimate counterparts. Then let them play with real friends at the dog park in the park.
Take the Baywalk Path around the Kaseya Center and down to the Bayside Marketplace. Animals are welcome outside the shops at the Bayside Marketplace. Be sure to grab an outdoor table at one of the many restaurants so your pet can join you. Walk off the food by continuing on the path to Bayfront Park. Your dog can run off the last bit of their energy at the Dog Park at Bayfront Park.
Upper East Side North
- Average rent: $2,031/month
- Top pet destination: Ms. Cheezious
- Popular dog park: Legion Memorial Park Dog Park
Live in an affordable neighborhood, next to a park in Upper East Side North, where plenty are located all over the neighborhood. Legion Memorial Park is a strip of green to the south of the neighborhood. You can walk through the field next to the water or down the trails next to the dog park. Get unimpeded views of Biscayne Bay at the calm Baywood Park. Just a bit outside of the northern part of the neighborhood is Military Trail Park with the Military Trail Dog Park.
Most of the pet services and pet-friendly entertainment are on Biscayne Boulevard. Ms. Cheezious and Dogma Grill welcome pets on their large patios. Enjoy a grilled cheese surrounded by greenery in the brick-covered backyard of Ms. Cheezious, where your pet is welcome to join you. Dogma Grill is a classic walk-up joint where you order at the window and take your food and your dog to one of the many outdoor seats.
Owning a Pet in Miami
The animals and fowl laws of Miami are quite extensive, covering a lot of topics and requirements. One of the main requirements is that all dogs, cats, and ferrets four months or older need to stay current on rabies vaccinations.
In terms of animal licenses, dogs must be licensed and have the required tag displayed on their collar. Getting your dog spayed/neutered can save you money as it is almost twice the price to register for non-spayed/non-neutered dogs. Registration for cats is voluntary but they still must be vaccinated against rabies, regardless of whether you register them or not.
Find the Perfect Pet-Friendly Home on Apartments.com
Finding a home that suits both you and your furry companion has never been easier. Apartments.com lets you explore a wide variety of pet-friendly options tailored to your needs. Whether you're a dog lover, a proud cat parent, or both, the pet policy filters make your search quick and stress-free.
Simply choose the location you want, click the “All Filters” button, and scroll down to the “Pet Policy” section. Select dog-friendly, cat-friendly, or both, and you’re done! You'll have a list of welcoming spaces designed for you and your pet to feel right at home. Start your search on Apartments.com today and find a home that loves your pets as much as you do with ease!
FAQs
Can I bring my dog to the beach in Miami?
You can take your dog to specific dog-friendly beaches. Some beaches have designated times that dogs are allowed. Some of the most popular dog beaches in Miami are:
- Haulover Dog Beach, which allows dogs in the designated dog-friendly section of the beach. It also has dog runs for small and large dogs across from the beach.
- Hobie Island Beach Park, where dogs can paddle and swim to their hearts content.
- Bark Beach at North Beach, which welcomes dogs off-leash in certain areas during certain times of the day. Two dog runs are located in North Beach Oceanside Park right next to Bark Beach.
- South Beach, 21st Street, which is open to dogs during certain times but you, the owner, must have a leash with you.
- Mid Beach, 53rd Street, which follows the same guidelines as South Beach in that dogs can only swim during the allocated hours.
Are pets allowed on public transport in Miami?
Pets are only allowed on public transport in Miami if they are in an enclosed carrier, such as a pet carrier or backpack.
What are the best pet-friendly events in Miami?
Some of the most popular dog-friendly events include:
- Bark at the Park with the Miami Marlins, an event where you can take your dog to a baseball game at LoanDepot Park.
- Dog-Friendly Woofstock Lite: Barks at the Barnacle in the Grove, which has live music, local vendors, and pet-friendly and pet-centric activities.
- PAWS at the Underline, which transforms the trail into an event to support animal welfare with adoptions, free training sessions, and pet vaccinations.
- The InterContinental Miami holds a Paws Patio every Wednesday, where dogs can enjoy a drink of water and humans can sip specialty drinks with a dog theme.
