The gate at the Bucks County Off-Leash Dog Park will not open for you. It runs on a programmed access card issued with a paid membership, so the classic move of driving to Core Creek on a Saturday with a new puppy and a tennis ball ends at a fence. That kind of detail is what this guide is for. Below: the leash rules that actually apply where you are standing, the parks that welcome dogs, the patios, the places to stay, and the license you are legally required to have.
The leash rules, layer by layer
Most local guides get this wrong, usually by asserting a statewide leash law that does not exist.
Pennsylvania has no statewide mandatory leash law
What state law actually says, per the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, is that all dogs must be under control and must not be allowed to run at large. There is no statewide six-foot rule, no statewide leash mandate. Municipalities layer their own leash ordinances on top, which is where the real rules live, and they vary township to township.
Two other pieces of state law matter. Dogs are personal property, and owners are responsible for damages caused by their dog. Dogs and cats 3 months of age or older are required to have a current rabies vaccination. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is at 717-787-3062.
Bucks County parks: six feet, exactly
County parks are the strictest and the clearest. Ordinance 170, as amended by 174, says that except in a Dog Park, dogs, pets and other animals must be under control of the owner at all times by leash, and no leash will be longer than six feet.
Six feet is a hard number. A retractable leash let out past six feet is out of compliance in a Bucks County park, even though you see them everywhere. Park hours are sunrise to sunset unless posted otherwise.
Pennsylvania state parks: it depends on the park
DCNR takes a different approach. The state parks pet policy requires that pets be physically controlled and attended at all times and on a leash, caged or crated. Electronic fences and electronic leashes are prohibited, as are temporary fencing and shock collars. Pets may not be tied to trees or porches or anchored to the ground.
Leash length varies by park, and DCNR tells you to ask at the park office. That is a real contrast with the county flat six-foot rule, and it means the answer at Tyler can differ from the answer at Nockamixon.
Pets are prohibited in swimming areas, inside buildings, in non-pet overnight areas, and anywhere posted as closed to pets. Camping is limited to designated pet-friendly sites with no more than two non-caged pets per site. Cabins allow a maximum of two dogs regardless of cabin size, house-trained only, never left unattended, with extra fees for damage or cleaning.
The off-leash dog park, and what to do before you drive there
Bucks County Off-Leash Dog Park sits inside Core Creek Park at 901 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne PA 19047, using the Tollgate Road entrance. It opened in July 2010.
- Hours are 7 a.m. to sunset daily.
- Closed Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m. for maintenance.
- Two separately fenced areas with independent entrances: a Large Dog Area for dogs over 28 lbs and a Small Dog Area for dogs 28 lbs and under.
- Membership is required and purchased online through the county recreation system. Each member receives an access card programmed for their designated area.
- A Bucks County dog license from the Treasurer office is separately required.
So this is a gated, card-access park, not a walk-up. Amenities inside include benches, landscaped pathways, water fountains, parking, restrooms, and waste bags and stations. The membership fee and the vaccination documentation requirements are not published online, so call Parks and Recreation at 215-757-0571 or check the current fee schedule before you sign up.
Trails and parks
The Delaware Canal towpath
The towpath is the flagship dog walk in this county and it is hard to beat. Sixty miles of flat, crushed surface running point to point from Easton to Bristol, 59 miles of it walkable, rated easiest, with a gentle grade, mile markers and ADA-accessible sections. It forms part of the 165-mile D and L Trail. Access points have modern restrooms, potable water, picnic tables and benches.
Delaware Canal State Park office is at 11 Lodi Hill Road, Upper Black Eddy, 610-982-5560. Because the towpath passes through a dozen towns, you can build a walk of almost any length and end it at a coffee shop. Our towns index is useful for picking a stretch.
County parks, all under the six-foot rule
- Core Creek Park, 1,200 acres, 901 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne
- Peace Valley Park, 1,500 acres, 264 Creek Road, Doylestown and New Britain
- Tinicum Park, 126 acres, River Road (Route 32), Erwinna
- Tohickon Valley Park, Point Pleasant
- Ringing Rocks Park, Upper Black Eddy
- Lake Towhee Park, Applebachsville
- Silver Lake Park, Bristol Township
- Playwicki Park, Langhorne
- Oxford Valley Park
One caveat that generates a lot of complaints: the three nature centers, Churchville, Peace Valley and Silver Lake, may prohibit dogs entirely even where the surrounding park allows them. Do not assume the park rule extends to the nature center building or its trails. Check each one directly before you go.
State parks
- Tyler State Park, 1,711 acres, 101 Swamp Road, Newtown, 215-968-2021. Neshaminy Creek, hiking, biking, equestrian trails and disc golf.
- Nockamixon State Park, 5,286 acres with a 1,450-acre lake, 1542 Mountain View Drive, Quakertown. Cabins 1, 2, 3 and 6 are pet-friendly.
- Ralph Stover State Park, 45 acres, 6011 State Park Road, Pipersville. The High Rocks overlook is the draw. Carry-in, carry-out.
- Washington Crossing Historic Park, 1112 River Road. The grounds are open every day sunrise to sunset and most of the park is free. Bowman Hill Tower is 125 feet, $6 per person, seasonal and closed in winter. Guided building tours are $6.
Washington Crossing does not publish an explicit pet policy, so the DCNR statewide policy applies by default. Confirm with the park before you plan around it.
If your dog is a swimmer and you are thinking about the river, read the boating rules first. Bucks County River Country at Point Pleasant allows dogs on canoe trips only, leashed, and not on tubes, rafts or kayaks. The full breakdown is in our Delaware River paddling guide.
Patios, breweries and wineries
Exactly one major destination in the county publishes a written pet policy, so treat everything else here as a starting point and call ahead. Patio policies also shift with the season and the staff on duty.
Peddler’s Village
Route 202 and Street Road, Lahaska PA 18931, 215-794-4000. The published policy states that well-behaved dogs are allowed on the Village grounds but must always be on short leashes, with no retractable or long leashes, and owners are required to pick up after their pets.
Inside restaurants and on the Buttonwood Grill outdoor deck, it is service animals only. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio at Earl’s New American when it is open. That combination of a written rule, a big walkable campus and shade makes the Village the easiest dog outing in the shopping category.
Patios reported by Visit Bucks County
These come from the county tourism office rather than the restaurants themselves, so confirm before you arrive.
- Bowman’s Tavern, New Hope
- Earl’s New American, Lahaska
- Genevieve’s Kitchen
- Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar, Newtown
- Langhorne Coffee House, which puts out water in a dog bowl
- McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn, Quakertown
- Pineville Tavern
- Stella of New Hope
Breweries: Neshaminy Creek Brewing, Naked Brewing and Vault Brewing Company in Yardley. Wineries: Bishop Estate Vineyard and Winery, Crossing Vineyards and Winery, and Rose Bank Winery. More New Hope options are collected under our New Hope tag.
Where to stay
The lodging list below is also reported by the county tourism office and is not confirmed by the properties, so call before you book. Fees and weight limits are the things that change first.
- Black Bass Hotel, 3774 River Road, Lumberville, 215-297-9260. The Baxter Suite is the only pet-friendly room.
- Bridgeton House on the Delaware, 1525 River Road, Upper Black Eddy, 610-982-5856. Pets under 25 lbs. Visit Bucks County lists this one under New Hope, which is wrong; it is in Upper Black Eddy.
- Ghost Light Inn, 50 S. Main St, New Hope, 267-740-7131. $75 per night per pet.
- Carriage House of New Hope. $75 per night per pet.
- Candlewood Suites Bensalem. $75 for stays under 6 days.
- Hampton Inn Quakertown. Maximum two pets, $75 to $125.
- Homewood Suites Doylestown. Maximum two pets, $75 to $125.
- Home2 Suites Warminster. Pets under 75 lbs.
- Residence Inn Langhorne. Up to two pets.
The best public option is the state park cabins at Nockamixon, 1969 Stover Mill Road, Perkasie. Cabins 1, 2, 3 and 6 take dogs, maximum two, house-trained, never left unattended. Tinicum Park in Erwinna offers county camping under the same six-foot leash rule that governs the rest of the county system.
Dog licensing in Bucks County
This is the part people skip and then get fined for. Pennsylvania requires dogs to be licensed beginning at 8 weeks old when you buy or adopt, or at 3 months of age, whichever comes first, and renewed by January 1 each year. The County Treasurer issues the license.
| License type | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Annual | $10.80 |
| Annual, senior 65+ or disabled | $8.80 |
| Lifetime | $52.80 |
| Lifetime, senior or disabled | $36.80 |
| Duplicate tag | $1.80 |
The penalty for failing to license is a maximum fine of $500 per violation plus court costs, which makes the $10.80 look like a bargain. Lifetime licenses require the dog to be microchipped and need veterinary verification.
Four ways to get one:
- Online through the county vendor at doglicenses.us/PA/Bucks
- Download the forms and mail them to the Treasurer
- County-wide dog agents
- In person at the Treasurer office
Bucks County Treasurer, 55 E Court Street, 5th Floor, Doylestown PA 18901, 215-348-6244, Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. One small trap: the alternate vendor padoglicense.com adds a $2.00 per license convenience fee, so use the county link above unless you have a reason not to.
Sources and Further Reading
- PA Department of Agriculture: Pennsylvania Dog Laws
- PA Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
- PA rabies vaccination information
- DCNR: Pets in Pennsylvania State Parks
- DCNR: State Park Rules and Regulations
- DCNR: Delaware Canal State Park
- DCNR: Nockamixon State Park
- DCNR: Tyler State Park
- Bucks County government, for parks ordinances and the Treasurer
- Bucks County online dog licensing
- Peddler’s Village pet policy
- Visit Bucks County, source for the patio and lodging lists
Fees, hours and park rules change, and pet policies at restaurants and inns change faster than anything else on this page. Call ahead. Spot something out of date? Send us a correction and we will fix it.
