Is Emerald Isle Beach Dog-Friendly?

We all love our furry friends and want to bring them with us everywhere! So when planning a beach vacation to Emerald Isle we have to ask, “Can my dog come too?!” The short answer: Yes! Emerald Isle is a dog-friendly beach destination along the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.

Now let’s dig into the dog-gone details.

Can Dogs go on Emerald Isle Beach?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Emerald Isle Beach as long as they are on leashes.

Does my Dog need to stay on a Leash in Emerald Isle?

Yes, your dog must remain on a leash the entire time while on Emerald Isle beach. If your dog would like to run or chase a ball on the beach, we recommend using retractable leashes.

A great example of a retractable dog leash with an attached waste bag dispenser.

What are the pet policies in Emerald Isle NC?

According to the Town of Emerald Isle’s latest Beach Regulations, “Dogs are permitted on the beach strand but must be kept on a leash. Dog excrement must be collected and removed from the beach strand.” There are plenty of trash can containers along the beach strand located at every public beach access. Our tip? Bring pet waste bags with you. There are great options of clip-on waste bag containers that you can attach to your dog’s leash.

Where are the best places to take my dog in Emerald Isle?

Dogs are not only allowed on the beach strand itself but there are also great options along E.I. including walking trails, a cute dog-friendly pet and coffee shop in town, and nearby dog parks in Morehead City. There are also talks of a new dog park being built in Emerald Isle soon! Keep up to date or donate to the dog park by visiting the Emerald Isle website here.

The fenced-in yard at PDL Beach Properties’ Coral Cottage Vacation Rental.

Where are dog-friendly places to stay in Emerald Isle?

Funny you should ask! We offer dog-friendly vacation rental options in Emerald Isle at PDL Beach Properties! Here is a list of our pet-friendly homes in Emerald Isle. There are also some dog-friendly options on the island at local hotels plus our friends at bringfido.com have some amazing listings as well!

We hope this article helped answer your pawing questions about dog-friendly options at Emerald Isle! If you have any other questions regarding our dog-friendly vacation rentals in Emerald Isle, visit our about page or contact us online.

Why is Emerald Isle, NC called Emerald Isle?

Many of our visitors often ask if Emerald Isle is named after Ireland’s famous nickname, “Emerald Isle.” They also wonder if our Emerald Isle in North Carolina was somehow founded by an Irishman. Let’s dive into some history and found out!

View of Emerald Isle from Flyover with the Atlantic Ocean on Left and Bogue Sound on Right.

Where is Emerald Isle?

Emerald Isle is located within the Crystal Coast, also known as the “Southern Outer Banks,” in North Carolina on the Bogue Banks. This 12-mile stretch of island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Bogue Inlet Sound. Travel to the island is made easiest by using one of two bridges that cross Bogue Sound. Of which, the Cameron Langston Bridge is the most direct route to Emerald Isle.

History of the Town of Emerald Isle

As much of American History can tell us, Native Americans inhabited this land before the Colonial Times. However, settlers soon realized the fishing and marine life of this coast was extremely valuable.

Fishing Grounds in the 1900s off of Crystal Coast NC.

Many whalers and fishermen made the island their hunting grounds until in 1920, Mr. Henry Fort acquired ownership of this land. His goal was to create a brand new Summer tourist location but was unable to finish his development.

Fishermen dragging the marine sound in Bogue Sound, NC (1917).

Upon Mr. Fort’s death, his daughter, Ms. Anita Maulick sold lots of Emerald Isle land to 7 individuals. Each individual agreed the land should remain family-oriented. Therefore, they limited commercial development on the island to make way for single-family homes. In 1960, ferry service began from North Carolina’s mainland, and finally, in 1971 the Cameron Langston Bridge was complete. Allowing tourism to Emerald Isle to skyrocket each Summer and more development to continue over time.

Watercolor Map of the NC Crystal Coast by Artist MoJoFineArt

So..Where did Emerald Isle get its Name?

Before development began to block out the island as a new tourist destination, a Florida consultant visited. During his flyover of the island, the lands of North Carolina with its lush maritime forests against the sparkling blues of the ocean gave him a brilliant idea. Hence, the name “Emerald Isle” was born. These maritime forests inhabit incredible flora and fauna such as Sea Turtles, White Egrets, Wax myrtle, Holly, and Sea Oats. They are also essential to the island’s shoreline as a windscreen and protector of the constant movement of the coast. The name Emerald Isle was born and stands to remain a beautiful indicator of the incredibly diverse wildlife and coastal estuaries along the Crystal Coast.

Ocean front cottage in Emerald Isle NC — See Turtle Cottage in Emerald Isle, NC

No matter its name, Emerald Isle is one of USA Today’s Top 10 NC Best Beaches.

From its small southern town feel to its town slogan, “Nice Matters,” Emerald Isle is the perfect family beach getaway in North Carolina. It has thousands of Emerald Isle Vacation rentals for large groups to small, more than 75 public ocean beach access sites, more than 25 public sound access sites, and maintains more than 350 public beach access parking spaces on or near the oceanfront. With Emerald Isle’s key town value to maintain a family beach small-town atmosphere and the many events held throughout the year, this is the perfect North Carolina beach to visit.

If you are searching for your perfect vacation rental property in Emerald Isle, contact PDL Beach Properties today! If you’d like to learn more about Emerald Isle, read this list of fast facts provided by the town of Emerald Isle.

What Guests Want to Know

A Simple FAQ For Our Current and Future Guests.

Booking & Cancellation

Q: How do I book with PDL Beach Properties?
A: Contact Joyce Jones by phone, email or contact form on the website to discuss any of our 11 Emerald Isle Vacation Rentals.

Q: How old do I need to be to reserve a home?
A: In order to reserve one of our vacation homes everyone who is traveling must be at least 25 years old or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Q: Do infants count toward the maximum occupancy?
A: Generally, children under the age of 2 do not count toward the maximum occupancy.

Q: Can I bring my dog along?
A: Dogs are allowed in all of our homes. Prior to bringing your dog, you must check with the Property Manager and pay the required one-time pet fee per pet. There is no limit as to how many furry friends you can bring but the fee is charged per pet. We do not allow cats at this time.

Q: What is the difference between HomeAway/VRBO and your site?
A: VRBO/HomeAway are advertising sites. We are the property management company that manages everything from marketing to maintenance and housekeeping. We advertise on VRBO and other sites to get our homes the most visibility.

Q: What is PDL Beach Properties’ cancellation policy?
A: A sixty (60) day notice is required for cancellations. Cancellations that are made more than sixty (60) days prior to the arrival date will not incur a penalty. Cancellations or changes that result in a shortened stay, that are made within sixty (60) days of the arrival date, forfeit the full advance payment and damage/reservation deposit. Cancellation or early departure does not warrant any refund of rent or deposit.

Q: Do you have any homes without a three-night minimum stay?
A: Most of our homes have at least a three-night minimum stay during the Off-season. Over the peak season, we only allow weekly rentals from Saturday to Saturday.

Q: Do you take partial payments or must I pay in full upon booking?
A: For All Reservations, a $500 refundable damage deposit is due upon booking with signed contract. Half of the rental fee is due 60 days after the contract is signed and the entire balance is due 14 days before the start date of your reservation.

Q: Do you allow weddings in your homes?
A: Some of our homes do allow weddings with the Property Manager’s approval. Depending on the home, there may be additional fees, parking restrictions and guest count maximums. Please call us for more details.

Q: How can I modify my reservation, and are there any fees associated with that?
A: Please call us at 919-753-5751 to help you modify your reservation. There could be additional fees depending on the change occurring, but we will walk you through everything before finalizing it.

Q: Do you have monthly rates for your homes?
A: Yes. Please call us for more details on a specific rental property.

Q: Would I need to sign a rental contract for renting a vacation rental?
A: By booking a reservation, guests acknowledge and agree to abide by PDL Beach Properties’s rental policies. Some of our homes will require you to sign a reservation contract agreeing to policies that are specific to that home. We ask that you review and sign the contract and return it to us via email.

Q: How do I go about booking a vacation as a gift for a friend?
A: You can book and pay for a reservation for another person. However, you must ensure that the name and all contact information listed on the reservation, including the email address, are for the person that will be staying in the home.

Q: What is the difference between a hotel and a vacation rental?
A: All of our vacation rentals are owned by private home-owners and can be preferable to hotels for a number of reasons. They are typically more comfortable, offer kitchens for preparing meals and are more accommodating to those traveling with children and/or pets. Vacation rentals also offer a wider variety of accommodations which enables them to fit any vacation need or group size.

Q: How do I pay for a reservation?
A: We accept the following credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express.

Features & Amenities

Q: Do you supply anything for the pool?

A: Yes, at most locations there are extra towels and some pool toys to play with. We also have corn hole sets at many of our Emerald Isle rentals. Be sure to ask about specific locations when booking.

Q: Do I need to bring any kitchen supplies?

A: No, all of our vacation rentals have fully stocked kitchens: dishes, cups, pots, pans, cooking utensils, eating utensils, coffee makers (some locations have Keurigs), bottle openers, and much more.

Q: Is smoking allowed in the home?
A: Smoking is prohibited on the rented premises.

Q: Does the home come with linens and towels, or do I need to bring my own?
A: The home will be equipped with all the basic necessities. All the beds will be made with fresh linens and bath towels will be provided. If you would like beach towels, we recommend bringing those with you.

Q: What other items can I expect to find in the home?
A: Please see the features and amenities section of the home listing. PDL Beach Properties will have a few items to get you started, including a small amount of toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, dishwasher pacs/pods, and dish brushes. If there is something specific that you require, please make sure you bring it with you. This is ONLY a small supply so you will need to bring extra. PDL Beach Properties does not provide extra supplies.

Q: What cable package does the home have? Will we be able to watch the game?
A: Each rental property will have a different cable vs streaming option. Please ask about a specific rental property you are interested in.

Q: If I want to order a movie or a game can I do so and have it charged to my credit card on file?
A: Our homes generally do not provide any sort of pay-per-view service.

Location & Access

Q: How do I obtain the keys?
A: We will e-mail check-in instructions 7 days prior to your stay including driving directions and the code to the lockbox or electronic deadbolt.

Q: The lockbox only has one set of keys. Can we get another set?
A: We prefer the keys stay in the lockbox so that each member of your party can access the home at any time. This will eliminate the need for multiple key sets. It also prevents the keys from getting lost.

Housekeeping & Maintenance

Q: Can I not pay the cleaning fee if I clean the home myself, rather than using your cleaning services?
A: No. Guests are not allowed to clean after their own stay. Our housekeepers meet very strict guidelines and are required to clean the home after each guest vacates.

Q: We’ve run out of toilet paper. Can you bring us some more?
A: PDL Beach Properties provides a starter kit of supplies only. If you think you will need more than what is provided, please make sure to bring some with you. We will not bring you extra supplies.

Q: We can’t get the fireplace/internet/TV/etc. working. Are there instructions in the house?
A: You should have received an email from us with check-in instructions that include a list of instructions specific to your location. However, if no instructions are found or if you need further assistance please contact us at 919-753-5751.

Q: I am allergic to pet dander and other smells, but I want to stay in a pet-friendly home. Is there any way to ensure that I won’t be bothered by them for my stay?
A: All our homes are thoroughly cleaned after each stay. However, we are unable to guarantee that you will not have a reaction to a home that has been regularly occupied by pets.

Check-in & Check-out

Q: Do I have to check in by a certain time?
A: Check-in is at 3 PM or 4 PM depending on the rental and guests can arrive any time after. There are some cases when early check-in is available. If that is the case, we will email you to inform you that an early check-in option is available. Please note that we will not be able to confirm or deny an early check-in request prior to the day of check-in due to our cleaning schedules.

Q: What are the check-out procedures?
A: Check-out is at 10 AM or 11 AM depending on the rental. A per hour fee will be assessed for failing to vacate the unit by the agreed upon check-out time.

Q: Do you allow early check-ins?
A: An early check-in is dependent on whether or not the housekeeper has time to fully clean the home before your arrival. If guests are checking out the same day that your reservation begins, an early check-in is not allowed as it will not allow the housekeeper enough time to fully prepare the home for you. We will email you if an early check-in is available.

Q: Can I get a late checkout?
A: Late check-out is available if we do not have another reservation that night. There is a fee (plus taxes) associated. The fee varies from house to house. We can tell you if a late check-out is available three days before check-in.

After your stay

Q: What is your lost and found policy?
A: We will return your lost item to you if you call us within two weeks of your departure date. Any items not claimed within two weeks will be donated to a local charity.