Beach walkway in Orange Beach
Beaches

Beach rules in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

The two cities and Gulf State Park each set their own beach rules. Alcohol is banned on the Gulf Shores public beach and the park beaches but allowed on Orange Beach city beaches, never in glass. Dogs aren't allowed on the public beaches, holes may be 12 inches deep, and gear left out after dark is removed.

Compare the rules
Checked November 3, 2026Two cities, one state parkNo dogs on public beaches

Orange Beach, Alabama · Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 · Credits

Side by side

Which rule applies where

In spring the Gulf Shores alcohol ban covers all beach sand in the city, not only the public beach.

  • Alcohol

    Gulf ShoresBanned on the public beach (Gulf Place, the street-end accesses, Lagoon Pass); banned on all beach sand from March 1 to mid or late AprilOrange BeachAllowed on city beaches, never in glassGulf State Park beachesBanned on the park beaches and their parking lots

  • Glass

    Gulf ShoresBanned, including breakable plasticOrange BeachBannedGulf State Park beachesBanned

  • Dogs

    Gulf Shores: Not on the public beaches; allowed at Gulf Place off the sand. A narrow exception covers leashed dogs in front of private homes in residential areas

    Orange BeachNot on the beach or the dunesGulf State Park beachesNot on the park beaches

  • Tents

    Gulf ShoresUp to 7 × 7 feet and 4 feet high on the public beaches; bigger ones only in the designated area at Gulf Place; one-pole umbrellas allowedOrange BeachUp to 12 × 12 feet (144 sq ft); over 7 feet wide or 4 feet high goes behind the Leave Only Footprints markerGulf State Park beachesBehind the white Leave Only Footprints flags

  • Holes

    Gulf Shores12 inches deep at most; fill them 30 minutes before sunsetOrange Beach12 inches at most, watched by someone over 16 or marked; fill them 30 minutes before sunset; no metal shovelsGulf State Park beaches12 inches at most; no metal shovels

  • Leaving gear overnight

    Gulf ShoresSet up from sunrise; remove everything by one hour after sunsetOrange BeachUnattended gear is removed from one hour after sunset to sunriseGulf State Park beachesGear left overnight or set out before dawn is removed

  • Sleeping on the beach

    Gulf ShoresNot from 10 pm to 6 am at Gulf PlaceOrange BeachNo camping or sleeping from 8 pm to 6 amGulf State Park beachesNo overnight stays

  • Music

    Gulf ShoresNot audible beyond 30 feet at Gulf PlaceOrange BeachNot audible beyond 100 feetGulf State Park beachesPark quiet hours 10 pm to 6 am

  • Fires and grills

    Gulf ShoresBannedOrange BeachBanned, including generators and lanternsGulf State Park beachesBanned

  • Fireworks

    Gulf ShoresBanned, including sky lanterns and sparklersOrange BeachBannedGulf State Park beachesBanned, including sky lanterns and sparklers

  • Drones

    Gulf ShoresBanned at Gulf Place without FAA and city permissionOrange BeachHobby drones banned; commercial use needs a city permit and business licenseGulf State Park beachesNo separate park rule

  • Smoking

    Gulf ShoresTobacco and e-cigarettes banned at Gulf PlaceOrange BeachCity code appliesGulf State Park beachesNo separate park rule

  • Fishing

    Gulf ShoresBanned at Gulf Place, on the beach and 100 feet into the waterOrange BeachCity code appliesGulf State Park beachesAt the pier with a permit

  • Dunes

    Gulf ShoresKeep offOrange BeachOnly on walkovers and marked pathsGulf State Park beachesUse the boardwalks

  • Fines

    Gulf Shores$50 per violation of the Leave Only Footprints rules; up to $500 under the city codeOrange Beach$50 to $500 per day of violationGulf State Park beachesNo separate park rule

Sources: Gulf Shores: beach rules, Leave Only Footprints, Gulf Shores city code; Orange Beach: Leave Only Footprints, beach FAQ, Orange Beach code, chapter 30, drone use; Gulf State Park rules (PDF), Gulf State Park beaches and the Leave Only Footprints beach rules it links to.

Orange Beach extras

Pools, rental chairs and turtle lights

Orange Beach has a few extra rules of its own, written into the city code.

Sources: Orange Beach code, chapter 30, wildlife lighting ordinance (PDF).

Inflatable pools
Up to 5 feet across; don't leave them overnight
Rental gear
At least 35 feet from the waterline
Seaward of the high-tide line
No tents, pets, fires or large pools
Shovel handles
Up to 23 inches
Sea turtle season
May 1 to October 31; temporary lights must not be visible on the protected beach after 9 pm
Gulf Shores extras

Curfew, swim zone and alcohol exceptions

These come from the Gulf Shores city code, last changed by ordinance 2187 of December 8, 2025.

Source: Gulf Shores city code

Flags and closed water

Spring break rules

Curfew
Under 18s off the public beach and city parks from midnight to 6 am, unless with a parent, working or a resident
Swim area
From March 1 to October 31 the water 400 feet out from the public beach is for swimmers only, from sunrise to one hour after sunset; no boats, surfboards or paddleboats
Alcohol exceptions
Sealed in its original packaging and covered, in transit at Gulf Place; the four days of the Shrimp Festival in October; Mardi Gras Tuesday and events the council approves
Stay nearby

Stay on the beach in Gulf Shores

Close to Gulf Place and the park beaches, where these rules apply every day.

Gulf Shores vacation rentals on Vrbo