Dog Control

The Isles of Scilly are the perfect destination for dog owners to bring their pet on holiday. To ensure the Islands are safe for wildlife and to minimise nuisance to all visitors and residents, there are local area restrictions in place and we ask that these are observed by all dog owners. A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in relation to dog control on the Isles of Scilly is in place (see the attachment at the bottom of this page), which includes offences relating to dog fouling and access to some beaches and sensitive areas of wildlife. Please be vigilant and take extra care outside the main residential areas and on the coastal paths as there may be livestock grazing on surrounding private and agricultural land.

Please ensure that your dog is under your control at all times

Dog Fouling

If your dog fouls in any public area you are required to clean it up and properly dispose of it

It is an offence if a person in charge of a dog fails to remove and suitably dispose of its faeces forthwith. In general terms, this applies to any open land that the public have access to. Please ensure that you always carry dog waste bags and use the public bins provided. Forgetting to bring a dog waste bag on a dog walk is not considered a suitable excuse, and a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) will be issued, resulting in a fine of £100. Some of the off islands have limited disposal bins, so please be suitably prepared to carry the waste bags until a suitable bin is found. Please note that dog waste can be put into any public bin and not just dog specific ones.

Report Dog Fouling Here

By Direction of an Authorised Officer
It will be an offence to not remove a dog's faeces, of a dog that you control, when directed to do so by an Authorised Officer.

Seasonal Exclusion Areas

It is an offence for any person in charge of a dog to take the dog onto, or permit the dog to enter land that is a designated dog exclusion zone. The Isles of Scilly have some of the best beaches in England and most are dog friendly. However during the summer season some of our beaches are off limits to dogs. From the 1st May until the 30th September there are limits on the areas below:

Porthcressa Beach (not including Little Porth) (all times)
Porthmellon Beach (all times)
Old Town Beach (9am-7pm)
Grass Area Adjacent to the Tourist Information Centre ('Porthcressa Gardens') (all times)

By Direction of an Authorised Officer
It will be an offence to not remove a dog from a designated exclusion zone when directed to do so by an Authorised Officer.

Permanent Exclusion Areas

The following areas are permanently off limits to dogs:

St Mary's	Parade Park, Hugh Town Five Islands School MUGA pitch, Old Town Five Islands School Playing Field, Old Town Isles of Scilly Skate Park, Old Town Garrison Playing Field, The Garrison Garrison Children's Play Area, The Garrison Porthcressa Children's Play Area, Hugh Town
Bryher	Bryher MUGA Pitch Bryher Community Centre, Children's Play Area
St Agnes	St Agnes MUGA Pitch St Agnes Primary School Green
St Martin's	St Martin's Enclosed Tennis Courts

By Direction of an Authorised Officer
It will be an offence to not remove a dog from a designated exclusion zone when directed to do so by an Authorised Officer.

Dogs on Leads

There is a requirement for ‘dogs on leads’ in designated streets/areas; The Bank, hugh Street, Silver Street, The Parade, Ingram's Opening, Lower Strand, The Strand (incl Wellcross), Church Street, and Holgates Green Picnic Area. It is an offence for any person in charge of a dog to fail to put and keep the dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer.

Church Grounds
There is a requirement for dogs to be kept on leads in designated church grounds as specified in the PSPO 2026.

Designated Bird Breeding Areas
Designated bird breeding grounds during the breeding season 1st April to 30th September will be closed to People and Dogs, as detailed in the PSPO 2026. The Isles of Scilly Hosts seabird colonies which are of national and international importance. The Manx Shearwater and The Storm Petrel breed here on one of only two sites identified in England. Disturbance can be a significant negative factors in breeding success. To protect the bird populations, Dogs and People are not to enter the designated seabird breeding grounds during the breeding season.

By Direction of an Authorised Officer
It will be an offence to not put a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an Authorised Officer.

Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015

It is the law that all dogs must be microchipped and registered to an approved database by the time they are 8 weeks old. Responsible owners would also ensure that their details are kept up to date with their Microchipping company. Having a dog microchipped is one of the best ways to increase your pet's chance of getting home if lost. Unlike dog tags and collars which can fall off or be removed, microchipping is a more permanent form of identifying your dog.

Should any member of the community require further clarification on the forthcoming PSPO please contact environmentalhealth@scilly.gov.uk

Dog Warden Patrols

An authorised member of the Environmental Health team will conduct "patrols" of various areas within the PSPO, as well as other public areas, to ensure compliance with the schedules stated within the PSPO. The officer will walk public routes to ensure that: dog fouling is not being committed, dogs are not permitted within enclosed children's play spaces, exclusion zones are being adhered to etc. Where the authorised officer spots an offence, i.e, dog fouling, dogs not on leads within specified areas, or allowing a dog to enter an exclusion zone, then a Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued.

Receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)

A Fixed Penalty Notice is an offer to let you pay a fine for an offence committed (typically £100 for PSPO violations) in order to avoid being prosecuted in court. Paying the fine closes the matter. However, refusing to pay the fine means the issuing authority can choose to prosecute you in a court of law. If you fail to defend your case, the court will issue a higher fine (typically £2500 for PSPO violations), and potentially add a criminal record and order you to pay court costs.

An authorised officer can issue an FPN when they believe an offence has been committed by a person who has, without reasonable excuse, done something that they have been prohibited from doing by a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), in this case, the dog offences mentioned above. See related legislation here (Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014).

The authorised officer will take your details and issue you with the FPN slip which you must pay to the issuing authority within 14 days of receiving it. Please note, it is an offence to wilfully obstruct an authorised officer in pursuance of their duties. Essentially, if you refuse to give the authorised officer your details, or wilfully give the authorised officer false details, an offence has been committed under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which could then result in a fine up to £1000, which is separate from the original FPN.

More info on FPN's can be found on the Gov website here:

Attachment	Size
2025 Dog Control Leaflet (002).pdf	866.97 KB
PSPO 2026_Full document.pdf	3.41 MB