Miami Beach Rules & Chair Rentals

No alcohol, no glass, no smoking, no tents — those are always enforced on Miami Beach. Chairs and umbrellas: rent on the sand from the city's concession (Boucher Brothers), roughly $20-25 per lounger and $15-20 per umbrella per day, cash or card, no need to book ahead. Hotel guests often get theirs free or discounted.

Key facts

What locals actually do here

• Never prepay beach chairs through a third-party website — rent on the sand.

  The attendants on the beach are the actual concession; online 'reservation' sites add markup for nothing. Ask the posted price before sitting, and if you're at a beachfront hotel, check whether chairs are already included with your stay.

  Verified Jul 2026

• Buy a $10 umbrella-anchor setup and bring your own gear if you're beaching more than two days.

  Two chairs and an umbrella from any Walgreens/Target near the beach costs about one day of rentals, and personal chairs and standard umbrellas are allowed. Just skip tents and canopies — those get you flagged by beach patrol.

  Verified Jul 2026

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my own umbrella, chair, and cooler to Miami Beach?

Your own chair and a standard beach umbrella, yes. Tents, canopies, tables, and inflatables are prohibited. Coolers are generally fine outside high-impact periods, but during spring break weekends the city bans coolers and inflatables at the South Beach entrances and screens bags. No glass, ever.

How much do beach chairs and umbrellas cost to rent on Miami Beach?

From the beachfront concession (Boucher Brothers runs most of it), figure roughly $20-25 per lounge chair and $15-20 per umbrella for the day — a two-chairs-plus-umbrella setup typically lands around $50-65. Prices vary by location and season, and attendants take cards. Confirm the price before you sit down; these are drafts of typical rates, not fixed.

Are there lifeguards, and can I swim anywhere?

Miami Beach Ocean Rescue staffs lifeguard towers along the whole beach during daylight hours — swim near a staffed tower and check the flag: green is calm, yellow is caution, purple means marine life (usually man-o'-war), red means dangerous conditions, double red means water closed. Rip currents are the real hazard here, not sharks.

Can you drink alcohol on Miami Beach?

No — alcohol is prohibited on the sand and in beach parks, and it's enforced, especially during spring break when there are checkpoints at Ocean Drive beach entrances. Drink at a licensed beachfront bar or hotel pool deck instead. Glass containers of any kind are also banned.

Do I need to reserve beach chairs in advance?

No — just walk up to the attendant at any setup on the sand. If you're staying at a beachfront hotel, check first: many include chairs and umbrellas or offer guest discounts, so don't pay retail on the public rows if your room key already covers it.

Are dogs allowed on Miami Beach?

Not on the sand, with one exception: the designated dog-friendly zone at North Beach (around 79th-81st Streets) during posted hours, leashed and with cleanup bags. Everywhere else on the beach, dogs are prohibited and the fine isn't worth testing. Bark Beach at North Shore Open Space Park is the spot locals actually use.

Is smoking allowed on Miami Beach?

No — Miami Beach banned cigarette smoking and other tobacco products on public beaches and in parks (Ordinance 2022-4509), with fines from $100 to $500. That includes the sand, the dunes, and beachfront parks like Lummus and South Pointe.

Is Miami Beach open at night? Can I be on the sand after dark?

The sand officially closes overnight (generally from around 10 p.m.-midnight until 5 a.m., and earlier during spring break restrictions). Police do sweep it, especially in South Beach. The paved beachwalk stays open and is the better nighttime stroll anyway.