Where to take a dog in Fort Myers: Woof-A-Hatchee dog park, the six-mile John Yarbrough trail on leash, a pet-friendly brewery and Lee County's leash law.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Sources: Lee County Parks and Recreation’s dog parks page and park pages, Lee County Ordinance 14-22 (PDF), Lee County Domestic Animal Services and each business’s own website. Lee County Domestic Animal Services: 239-533-7387.
Fort Myers’ dog parks and dog-friendly trails are run by Lee County Parks and Recreation, and the leash and license rules come from Lee County’s animal ordinance. The short version: leash on, license tag on the collar, and clean up after your dog. Off-leash play is for the fenced dog parks only.
Who to call
- Lee County Domestic Animal Services (licenses, lost pets, loose or dangerous dogs): 239-533-7387
- Lee County Parks and Recreation: 239-533-7275
- Emergency or a dog attack in progress: 911
The rules
- Leash: Lee County’s animal ordinance (PDF) prohibits animals running at large. Off your property, a dog must be under “direct control,” which the ordinance defines as immediate and continuous physical control, such as a fence or a leash no longer than 8 feet. The ordinance applies in unincorporated Lee County and in cities that have an interlocal agreement with the county; Domestic Animal Services can confirm the rules for a city address.
- License: in county parks, dogs must wear a collar with a valid county license, according to Lee County Parks and Recreation. Licenses come from Domestic Animal Services.
- In county parks: dogs must be with an adult and on a leash at all times outside the fenced dog parks. They are not allowed on playgrounds, ballfields, dugouts, bleachers, lakes and ponds, pools, water parks, indoor buildings or food areas, or where signs say so.
- Pick up after your dog. The county notes that uncollected pet waste degrades water quality.
Dog parks (off leash)
Woof-A-Hatchee, Wa-Ke Hatchee Park, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers. A Lee County dog park in south Fort Myers, with two off-leash play areas: one for small or shy dogs and one for large dogs, plus water and shower stations for the dogs, according to the park’s page. The county closed it Oct. 5-8, 2026, to install shade structures and expected to reopen it Friday, Oct. 9.
Lee County runs seven fenced dog parks in all. The others include K-9 Corral at Estero Park and Paws 4 Duty at Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres, about 12 miles east. The full list is on the county’s dog parks page.
Walks on a leash
The county lists these parks near Fort Myers as dog-friendly for on-leash walks:
| Park | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| John Yarbrough Linear Park | Trailhead at 14608 Six Mile Cypress Parkway | Dawn to dusk |
| North Fort Myers Community Park | 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers | Dawn to dusk |
| Karl Drews Park | 18412 Lee Road, Fort Myers | Dawn to dusk |
| jetBlue Park and the Lee Health Sports Complex grounds | See the county’s dog parks page | Posted park hours |
John Yarbrough Linear Park is the long one: a six-mile paved, multiple-use trail that runs north to south, well shaded on its southern section, with paved parking and restrooms at the trailhead. More on our walking and biking trails page.
Patios and taprooms
We list a business here only when its own website says dogs are welcome.
- Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive. “We are a family and pet friendly brewery,” its FAQ says, asking that all dogs stay on a leash at all times. Phone: 239-313-6576.
Restaurants and bars with dog-friendly patios can tell the newsroom, with a link to the page on their own site that says so.
Dog events
Edison Mall holds Paws and Claus, pet photos with Santa, from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, at 4125 Cleveland Ave. See holiday lights and Christmas events.
What this means for you
- Keep a leash of 8 feet or less on your dog anywhere off your property.
- Put the county license tag on the collar before you go to a county park.
- Use the fenced dog parks for off-leash play; trails and other parks are leash-only.
Related: parks and trails, kids’ activities and free things to do.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the dog park in Fort Myers?
Woof-A-Hatchee, at Wa-Ke Hatchee Park, 16760 Bass Road, is Lee County’s off-leash dog park in south Fort Myers, with separate areas for small or shy dogs and large dogs, plus water and shower stations.
What is the leash law in Fort Myers?
Lee County’s animal ordinance requires dogs off their owner’s property to be under direct control, which it defines as a leash no longer than 8 feet, a fence or similar restraint. Lee County Domestic Animal Services enforces it: 239-533-7387.
Do dogs need a license in Lee County?
Yes. Lee County Parks and Recreation requires dogs in its parks to wear a collar with a valid county license. Licenses come from Lee County Domestic Animal Services.
Can I walk my dog on John Yarbrough Linear Park?
Yes, on a leash. The county lists the six-mile paved trail as a dog-friendly, on-leash park, open dawn to dusk, with the trailhead at 14608 Six Mile Cypress Parkway.
Is there a dog-friendly brewery in Fort Myers?
Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, says it is family and pet friendly, as long as dogs stay on a leash at all times.
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