Can you bring your dog into a South Florida mall? Check the rules

One of South Florida’s biggest malls is a big fan of your dogs.

Aventura Mall, ranked No. 1 in the country, not only welcomes dogs to stroll with their humans, it even offers two dog parks.

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“The guest is at the heart of the experience, and that means their best friends, too,” mall management said in a statement to the Miami Herald.

The mall, at Northeast 195th Street and Biscayne Boulevard in Northeast Miami-Dade, features dog hydration stations, pet relief areas, dog-friendly patios, and of course those pet parks.

David Moskowitz, owner of Broward Bark, a local newsletter for pet owners, said businesses benefit when they’re pet-friendly.

“Being able to bring them along to pet-friendly places makes errands fun,” he said. “It also benefits retailers. Shoppers tend to stay longer since they’re not rushing home to let their dogs out, by visiting more stores.”

Dog rules at the mall

Despite the welcoming atmosphere, there are still dog rules at Aventura Mall. And those rules listed on signs.

Dogs must be accompanied by a human 18 or older. They have to stay on a leash or in a stroller. Their humans must clean up accidents. And the animals have to stay away from fountains and off the escalators.

Dogs generally aren’t allowed in restaurants and some stores might not be as dog-friendly as the mall in general, so check before you enter those areas with your pooch.

Even though dogs are welcome to window-shop, the mall doesn’t extend the same hospitality to your pet bird or reptile, according to the rules.

Do other South Florida malls allow dogs?

Lincoln Road Mall, a series of public pedestrian-only streets in South Beach lined by retail and restaurants, is perhaps the most dog-friendly shopping area in South Florida. People not only stroll with their dogs, they bring them to meet each other at the various plazas.

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Simon Malls, which include Sawgrass Mills and Coral Square in Broward and Dadeland, The Falls, Miami International Mall and Florida Keys Outlet Marketplace in Miami-Dade, allow service animals, according to the company’s posted policy. Aside from Sawgrass Mills, which strictly enforces its service-dogs-only policy, the other Simon malls welcome small dogs so long as they are contained in purses, bags or strollers.

Town Center at Boca Raton, also a Simon-run mall, allows small dogs as long as they aren’t walking on a leash.

Other animals, like cats, are not allowed.

“ADA service animals are permitted and small dogs contained in purses, bags or strollers are also welcome,” according to mall policy. “Non-service animals and other pets are not permitted. If your animal is not a service animal or a small dog contained in a purse, bag or stroller, you will be asked to remove the animal from the Center.”

According to Pet-Friendly Travel, The Falls in Kendall features a “dog comfort station” at guest services and allows dogs small enough to fit in a stroller, carrier, or held by the owner during the visit. Though the shopping center features various places to walk around, they aren’t considered a “dog-walking” friendly location.

The Shops at Merrick Park, an open-air complex in Coral Gables, also allows dogs in accepting stores, common areas and public spaces. Pet sites also say Bal Harbour Shops, another upscale outdoor mall in Miami-Dade, also is dog-friendly.

What you should know about bringing your dog to businesses?

The best advice is to check with a business before bringing your dog inside.

Some stores have different policies and don’t always throw down the welcome mat for your pup. At the popular Miromar Outlets mall off Interstate 75 north of Naples, the outdoor center allows dogs, and individual stores post signs in their windows if canines are welcome inside.

Under Florida law, restaurants generally don’t allow dogs, but service animals are always allowed inside.

And in 2024, Publix made it clear that dogs other than official service dogs, aren’t welcome inside the supermarket. Florida’s largest grocery store chain posted signs outside and the lobby to hammer home that point.

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Miami Herald staff writer Howard Cohen contributed to this report.