Clearwater Beach Rules, A to Z: What You Can and Can't Do

What are the rules on Clearwater Beach?

The table covers the questions visitors ask most. "Code" means the City of Clearwater Code of Ordinances. The penalty column is explained in the fines section below.

These are City of Clearwater rules. They cover Clearwater Beach and the stretch of Sand Key inside city limits. Sand Key Park is run by Pinellas County, which has its own park rules, so check the county's posted rules there.

Can you bring a tent, canopy or umbrella to Clearwater Beach?

An umbrella, yes. A camping tent, no. A pop-up canopy sits in a gray area, and that's why online answers disagree.

The city's beach rules page says: "No person shall set up tents, shacks or any other temporary shelters, or any special vehicle to be used for such purpose, such as a house trailer, camp trailer, camp wagon or the like on Clearwater Beach or any other public beach in the city." That sounds like a ban on all tents.

The code itself is narrower. Section 22.38, as amended in 2023, bans those shelters on any public beach "for the purpose of camping, except within such areas as may have been provided for such use as authorized by a special event permit." It's headed "Camping," and it's aimed at people trying to stay on the beach.

Two other lines in the code matter for daytime shade. Section 22.28(3) says no unauthorized person shall "construct or erect any buildings or structures of whatever kind whether permanent or temporary in character" on a public beach. Section 22.28(10) says no one may "tie or attach any item to a tree, plant, ground, or any other object for any purpose unless authorized by a special event permit." A 10-by-10 canopy staked into the sand with guy lines fits that description much better than an umbrella does.

Can you smoke or vape on Clearwater Beach?

No cigarettes, no vapes, no pipes. Unfiltered cigars are the one exception.

Until 2022, Florida law reserved smoking regulation to the state. Chapter 2022-213, Laws of Florida (the 2022 bill known as HB 105), changed Florida Statute 386.209 so counties and cities "may further restrict smoking within the boundaries of any public beaches and public parks that they own, except that they may not further restrict the smoking of unfiltered cigars." Clearwater used that power in Ordinance 9680-23, adopted June 15, 2023, which created Section 22.32 of the code.

Section 22.32(a) bars anyone from using, inhaling, exhaling or burning "any (i) electronic cigarette ... or (ii) lighted tobacco product, including cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and any other lighted tobacco product with the exception of unfiltered cigars, in or on public beaches and public parks owned or controlled by the city." The e-cigarette definition is broad. It covers anything marketed as an e-cigarette, e-cigar or e-pipe "or under any other product name or description."

• Penalty: a class IV civil infraction (Sec. 22.32(c)). Under the city's fine schedule in Sec. 1.12, that's $50 plus $10 in court costs, $60 total, if you don't contest it. A second violation of the same ordinance doubles the fine.
• Where it applies: city-owned or city-controlled beaches and parks, including Pier 60 Park.
• Exception: smoking at a city-sponsored or co-sponsored event that City Council has approved by resolution to allow it (Sec. 22.32(b)).

The cigar exemption is narrow: it covers unfiltered cigars only. Filter-tipped cigarillos are still banned. Cigar ends count as litter under Sec. 22.29, so carry them off the beach.

Can you bring glass, a cooler or alcohol to Clearwater Beach?

A cooler, yes. Glass and alcohol, no.

Glass. Sec. 22.33(2): "No person shall carry, transport, or cause to be transported any glassware, bottles or any other potentially dangerous or sharp objects onto ... any public beach." Pack cans and plastic, and decant anything that comes in a jar.

Alcohol. Sec. 22.33(5) says "illegal drugs and all alcoholic beverages are prohibited on any public beach," and Sec. 22.59 bars selling, consuming or possessing alcohol on park property unless a special event permit or a city-approved lease allows it. Sec. 22.57 adds that anyone impaired by alcohol or drugs can be removed from the beach. That covers beer in a cooler and wine at sunset. Licensed beachfront bars and restaurants are a separate case, and we cover where you can legally drink near the sand in our guide to alcohol on Clearwater Beach.

Coolers and food. We found no section of the code that limits coolers, picnic food or soft drinks on the beach. Take your trash with you: Sec. 22.29 requires litter to go in a receptacle or leave with you.

Are dogs allowed on Clearwater Beach?

Only on North Beach, and only on a leash. Everything south of Somerset Street, including the busy stretch around Pier 60, is off-limits to pets. Service animals are allowed everywhere.

Sec. 22.40(5) excludes all pets "from all public beaches, public pools, public splash pads and swimming areas abutting public beaches and parks," and the city's rules page says "no pets, dogs or cats in the public bathing area of Clearwater Beach, with exception of service animals." Sec. 22.40(7) protects service animals and animals in training, in line with the ADA.

North Beach is the exception. Sec. 22.40(2) and (6) set leash and cleanup rules for "the sandy beach located from the boundary of Somerset Street to the northern most boundary of Clearwater Beach," and the city's pets on Clearwater Beach page confirms dogs are allowed on the beach on a leash north of Somerset Street. The city adds that this "is not a dog beach," so no off-leash running, and you pick up after your dog. For dog beaches nearby, pet-friendly patios and hotels, see our guide to Clearwater Beach with a dog.

Can you fly a drone at Clearwater Beach?

Not from the beach and not over it. Two sets of rules apply, the city's and the FAA's, and you have to follow both.

City rules. Sec. 22.47(1) says no one operating "any airplane, helicopter, drone, glider, balloon, dirigible, parachute or other aerial apparatus" may take off from or land on any park land, water or public beach area, unless a life is in danger or the city has given written authorization. Sec. 22.47(3) goes further: no one may "take off, land or otherwise operate any aircraft in or over any public beach" or over the protected waters described in Sec. 33.114, a zone that runs about 300 feet out from the beach (see the watercraft section).

FAA rules for recreational flyers. Anyone flying for fun must:

• Pass the free online Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof.
• Register the drone if it weighs 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more, mark the registration number on the outside, and carry proof of registration. A drone that needs registration must also broadcast Remote ID, unless it's flown at an FAA-recognized identification area.
• Keep the drone within visual line of sight, or use a visual observer standing next to you.
• Fly at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and get authorization (LAANC or DroneZone) before flying in controlled airspace.
• Give way to all other aircraft.

Before any flight, check the FAA's B4UFLY listings for airspace near Pinellas County's airports, and the FAA's temporary flight restrictions page before big events. Paid or commercial work, including photos for a business or a wedding client, falls under the FAA's Part 107 rules instead.

Bottom line: casual hobby flights off the sand aren't allowed. Aerial shots of the beach need written city authorization plus FAA compliance.

Is metal detecting allowed on Clearwater Beach?

Yes, with a permit. The city's beach rules page says, "Metal detectors are allowed by permit-only," and links to an online application form (the City of Clearwater metal detector permit form, hosted on Smartsheet). We couldn't find a fee or permit length published on the city's pages, so apply through the form and read the terms you're given.

The code backs this up. Sec. 22.28(3) bans unauthorized searching or digging "by tool, equipment, blasting or other means" on public beaches, but makes an exception for "minor excavations involving the recovery of lost artifacts on the public beaches or public parks, provided such minor excavations are immediately refilled and no safety hazards to the public are created." In practice: small holes, filled right away, and nothing taken that counts as an archaeological artifact (Sec. 22.28(4) protects historic and prehistoric material).

The permit is for City of Clearwater beaches. Detecting at Sand Key Park (Pinellas County) or at the state parks on Honeymoon and Caladesi islands is governed by those agencies' rules.

Can you have a bonfire, grill or fireworks on Clearwater Beach?

No to all three, for visitors.

• Fires and grills: Sec. 22.33(7): "Open fires, grills, or other cooking or heating devices are not permitted on any public beach." That includes charcoal grills, propane grills, camp stoves and fire pits. Cooking fires are allowed only in city-provided grills in parks (Sec. 22.36), not on the beach.
• Fireworks: Sec. 22.56 bars bringing, possessing or setting off fireworks or explosives on any public beach "without prior authorization." That includes sparklers. Shows the city authorizes are a separate matter.

Can you dig holes, take sand or shells, or leave gear overnight?

Digging and sandcastles. No section of the code limits how deep a child's hole can be or bans sandcastles. Sec. 22.28(3) does bar unauthorized "excavation by tool, equipment, blasting or other means." We read that as aimed at serious digging rather than a child's bucket and spade, though the city hasn't published guidance on it. Two good reasons to fill in every hole before you leave: people walk the beach at night, and during nesting season holes trap sea turtle hatchlings and nesting females.

Sand. Don't take any. Sec. 22.28(3) bans removing "any sand whether submerged or not" from a public beach, and the city's rules page repeats it.

Shells. The city's beach rules page doesn't list shell collecting as prohibited. Sec. 22.28(4), headed "Preservation of archaeological and historic sites," does bar removing "bones, shells, or geological specimens" from city land without authorization. We read it as aimed at historic material, but the wording is broad, so ask if it matters to you. Never take a shell with a live animal inside. Our shelling guide covers where and when to look.

Leaving chairs, umbrellas and tents overnight. We found no city ordinance that sets a time limit on unattended beach gear, but an overnight setup starts to look like the camping that Sec. 22.38 bans. From May through October, FWC's sea turtle guidance is clear that beach furniture "should be completely removed from the beach" at night, because chairs left on the sand can block nesting turtles from reaching the upper beach. Take everything with you when you leave.

What are the sea turtle season rules on Clearwater Beach?

Nesting season runs May 1 to October 31. That date range is written into Clearwater's Community Development Code, Sec. 3-1302(D), which sets lighting standards "on Clearwater Beach and Sand Key" during the season. As of early October 2026 the season is in its final weeks.

The lighting rules mostly bind property owners rather than beachgoers. Beachfront fixtures must not directly light the beach, balcony lights must be shielded from the beach, and parking lot lights within sight of the beach must be shielded so only deflected light reaches it. If your hotel room faces the Gulf, closing the curtains at night helps for the same reason.

For beachgoers, state and federal law are what count. Sea turtles, their nests and eggs are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and Florida's Marine Turtle Protection Act (Sec. 379.2431, Florida Statutes), which restricts disturbing or harassing turtles or nests. In practice:

• Stay outside staked and taped nest areas.
• Keep night walks dark. FWC's guidance for beachfront lights is "low, long and shielded": long-wavelength amber, orange or red light, mounted low and pointed down. If you carry a flashlight, a red light aimed at the sand follows the same logic, and skip flash photos of turtles or hatchlings.
• Fill in holes, knock down sandcastles and take your chairs home before dark.
• Report a turtle in trouble, a disturbed nest or wandering hatchlings to FWC's Wildlife Alert line, 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), or *FWC or #FWC from a cell phone.

Species, nest counts and how to see hatchlings responsibly are in our sea turtle season guide.

Are bikes, e-bikes and scooters allowed on Beach Walk?

Not if they have a motor. Ordinance 9817-25, adopted in March 2025, created Sec. 22.61. It bans riding "any motorized bicycle, electric bicycle, hoverboard, motorized unicycle, motorized scooter or similar motorized device" in, on or through the whole of Beach Walk. The exceptions are medically necessary devices and areas meant for vehicles, such as parking lots, streets, driveways and drive aisles. A violation is a class IV civil infraction: $60 if you pay without contesting.

The city's beach rules page says the same thing. Sec. 22.61 only covers motorized devices; it says nothing about pedal bikes.

For the promenade itself, including where it runs and where to park near it, see our Beach Walk guide.

Where can you surf, paddleboard or fish from Clearwater Beach?

Boards and boats. The city's rules page: "Surfboards, sailboats, motorboats, personal watercraft or singular hard-surfaced objects are not permitted to be beached on the public bathing beach area of Clearwater Beach. If you'd like to participate in any of these activities, they must be done outside the swim zone or on North Beach past Somerset Street." The rule sits under the page's surfing, paddleboarding, windsurfing and skimboarding heading. Our guide to kiteboarding, sailing and windsurfing covers where those sports happen.

The protected water is defined in Sec. 33.114: roughly a 300-foot band out from the mean high-water line, running from the north jetty at the south end of Clearwater Beach island up to the end of Somerset Street. Vessels and aircraft can't operate inside it. The exceptions are government vessels (Sec. 33.113), permitted special events, and rental operators running through marked corridors under a city waiver (Sec. 33.116). Pier 60 also has its own no-vessel zone around the pier (Sec. 33.114A).

The code also sets out a single authorized surf and skimboard area on Clearwater Public Beach (Sec. 22.33(6)(A)), defined by GPS coordinates as a zone about 153 yards along the shore and 330 yards out into the Gulf. By our reading of the coordinates it sits roughly half a mile north of Pier 60. Ask a lifeguard where it is on the day rather than relying on a map estimate.

Fishing. Sec. 22.35(6): "No person shall at any time fish from public beaches in any designated swim area." The city's rules page includes cast netting under the same heading. Fishing elsewhere follows FWC rules (Sec. 22.35(1)), unwanted fish and bait go in the trash rather than on the sand (Sec. 22.35(5)), and Sec. 22.33(10) bars climbing on jetties, groins and breakwaters without authorization. For where to cast, licenses and seasons, see our surf fishing guide.

Can you play music on Clearwater Beach?

Keep it to yourself. The city's park and facility rules say "No amplified sound," and Sec. 22.55(3) bars any "public address system or electrical amplification" on public beaches "in violation of section 3-1508 - Noise of the community development code."

Section 3-1508 defines unlawful noise as "loud and raucous" sound that can be heard 100 feet or more from the source, and lists radios, amplifiers, music players and "rumbling or reverberating rhythmic bass" among the examples. Headphones are the safe choice. If you do use a small speaker, keep it at conversation volume so nobody two umbrellas over can hear it. Organized performances and events need a special event permit (Sec. 22.55(1)).

What other Clearwater Beach rules catch visitors out?

• No soap at the outdoor showers. Sec. 22.28(9) says outdoor beach showers "are for rinsing only," with no soap, shampoo or other cleansers. Sec. 22.33(12) also bans washing people or pets with soap in the Gulf.
• Don't feed the birds. Sec. 22.31(3): "No person shall feed any feral or wild animal or attempt to pet any wildlife." That includes gulls and pelicans. Sec. 22.31(1) also bars chasing or harassing wildlife. Our wildlife guide covers what you can and can't take or feed, including live shells.
• Stay off the lifeguard stands. Sec. 22.33(11) bars anyone unauthorized from entering or using a lifeguard stand or rescue equipment at any time.
• Ball games. Casual throwing of footballs, Frisbees and volleyballs is allowed "unless such activity creates a threat of physical injury to any person." Organized games belong in areas set aside for them (Sec. 22.49); see our guide to organized volleyball on Clearwater Beach.
• Photo shoots. Personal photos are fine. Shoots with set scenery, lighting rigs, a cast or professional models need prior authorization (Sec. 22.51).
• Selling things. Only the city and its licensed concessionaires can sell or rent goods or services on the beach without written authorization (Sec. 22.53).
• Swimwear. Public nudity is prohibited (Sec. 22.33(9)).
• Hours. Clearwater Beach is open 24 hours a day (Sec. 22.24(2)). Pier 60 Park is closed 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. under the code (the park's own city page lists 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., so plan on 7). Lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and the beach can be closed when weather or surf makes it dangerous (Sec. 22.33(8)). Check the beach warning flag before you swim.

What are the fines for breaking Clearwater Beach rules?

There are two tiers, and which one applies depends on the rule.

Those are maximums and schedule amounts from the code, not a prediction of what any one ticket will cost. All Chapter 22 rules can be enforced by any law enforcement officer, and park and marine staff can warn you and report violations (Sec. 22.26). If the county court changes its uniform fine schedule, the court's amount applies.

Where do Clearwater Beach rules come from?

Three layers stack up on the sand:

• City of Clearwater Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22 (Parks, Beaches, Recreation). Most of this page comes from Article II, the use regulations. The vessel exclusion zone is in Chapter 33, and the fine schedule is in Sec. 1.12. Read it on Municode.
• The Community Development Code. This holds the sea turtle lighting standards (Sec. 3-1302) and the noise rule (Sec. 3-1508).
• State and federal law. Florida Statute 386.209 sets what cities can and can't ban for smoking. The Marine Turtle Protection Act and Endangered Species Act protect nests. FWC rules govern fishing, and the FAA governs anything that flies.

The city manager can also set time, place and manner rules and post signs, and those directions "have the effect of law" (Sec. 22.24(1)). The Pier 60 fishing pier has its own posted rules and fees on top of all this.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bring a pop-up canopy to Clearwater Beach?

The code's tent ban (Sec. 22.38) is aimed at camping, so a small freestanding shade shelter used for the day isn't clearly prohibited. But Sec. 22.28 bars erecting unpermitted temporary structures and tying items to the ground, which describes a large staked canopy. An umbrella is the safest choice. Take whatever you bring home when you leave, and take it down if a lifeguard or officer asks.

What is the fine for smoking on Clearwater Beach?

Smoking or vaping on a city beach is a class IV civil infraction. Under the city's schedule that's $50 plus $10 in court costs, $60 total, if you pay without contesting, and the fine doubles for a second violation. The ban has been in effect since June 15, 2023.

Are cigars allowed on Clearwater Beach?

Unfiltered cigars are. Florida Statute 386.209 lets cities ban smoking on their beaches but says they "may not further restrict the smoking of unfiltered cigars," and Clearwater's ordinance exempts them. Filter-tipped cigarillos, cigarettes, pipes and every kind of vape are banned.

Can you drink beer on Clearwater Beach?

No. Sec. 22.33(5) prohibits "all alcoholic beverages" on any public beach, whatever the container. Glass bottles are banned separately under Sec. 22.33(2). The ban covers the public beach; licensed bars and restaurants, including bars right on the sand, serve on their own premises, and permitted special events can allow alcohol.

Do I need a permit to metal detect on Clearwater Beach?

Yes. The city says metal detectors are "allowed by permit-only" and takes applications through an online form linked from its beach rules page. The code allows small holes to recover lost items as long as they're refilled immediately.

Can you be on Clearwater Beach at night?

Yes. The code lists Clearwater Beach as open 24 hours a day. Pier 60 Park closes at 9 p.m. and reopens at 6 a.m. under the code (7 a.m. per the park's own city page), lifeguards are only on duty from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the beach can be closed in dangerous weather. From May through October, keep lights low and take your gear with you for the nesting turtles.

Do these rules apply at Sand Key Park?

Not entirely. This page covers City of Clearwater rules, which apply on Clearwater Beach and the city's stretch of Sand Key. Sand Key Park is a Pinellas County park with its own posted rules and hours. Check the county's rules before you go.