Dog-friendly Birmingham: Remy's off-leash dog park at Red Mountain Park, leashed dogs at Railroad Park and Ruffner, where pets are banned, and who to call.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from each park’s or agency’s own website, linked inline. Rules change; check the linked page before you go.

Birmingham’s best place for a dog to run is Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park, the city’s only off-leash park we could confirm. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails at Red Mountain and Ruffner Mountain and at downtown’s Railroad Park. The Botanical Gardens and some special events do not allow pets.

Who to call

  • Loose, stray or injured dogs: GBHS Animal Care and Control, 205-591-6522, 24 hours
  • Red Mountain Park and Ruffner Mountain: Jefferson County Greenways, 205-833-8264
  • Railroad Park: 205-521-9933

Remy’s Dog Park, Red Mountain Park

  • Where: Red Mountain Park, main entrance 2011 Frankfurt Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211; no parking or admission fee.
  • What: off-leash, about six acres, with separate fenced areas for large dogs, small dogs and special needs dogs, double-gate entries, benches and shade.
  • Rules: one owner and their dogs at a time in each area’s entry, no food or treats, no glass, and stay out when the ground is wet. The park closes Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. for maintenance.
  • Water: available at the restrooms at the Frankfurt Drive entrance; bring your own on the trails.

Rules and tips are from Jefferson County Greenways’ guide to visiting with your dog. Outside the fenced areas, all dogs must be on a leash and under control.

Trails with your dog

  • Red Mountain Park: dog friendly on leash across its trail system.
  • Ruffner Mountain, main entrance 1214 81st St. S.: dog friendly; dogs stay on-leash at all times, and waste bags and trash cans are at each main trailhead, according to Ruffner Mountain’s page. Ruffner charges a parking fee. Water is available at the 81st Street South entrance.
  • Greenways tips: keep vaccinations current, leave dogs in heat or sick dogs at home, ask before approaching other dogs, and keep to marked trails.

More trails, with distances and trailheads, are in our walking and biking trails guide.

Railroad Park

Dogs are welcome in downtown’s 19-acre Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave. S., “as long as they are on a leash and have an owner who cleans up after them,” the park says in its FAQ. The park is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Pepper Place

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of Pepper Place, the shopping and dining district on 2nd Avenue South, as long as they are leashed; individual businesses set their own policies, according to Pepper Place’s FAQ. The Saturday farmers market asks owners to leave dogs home in hot weather, because the market has no shade, according to the market.

Where dogs are not allowed

  • Birmingham Botanical Gardens: certified service animals only; pets are not permitted, according to its visit page.
  • Vulcan Park and Museum’s holiday event: no pets or emotional support animals at Holidays on the Mountain; trained service dogs only, according to Vulcan Park and Museum.

Leash rules and animal control

The city regulates animals running at large in its code of ordinances. Greater Birmingham Humane Society Animal Care and Control provides animal control for the city: it picks up stray and loose animals, including those without rabies identification, investigates cruelty and neglect, and helps with bites by aggressive animals. Strays are held seven days. The Birmingham Animal Care and Control shelter is at 6227 5th Ave. N., and calls are taken around the clock at 205-591-6522, according to GBHS.

Dog-friendly patios

We list restaurant and brewery patios as dog friendly only when the business says so on its own website. Own one? Send us the link and we will add it.

What this means for you

  • Check the ground before a dog park visit; Remy’s asks owners to stay off when it is wet.
  • Carry water and bags on the mountain trails.
  • Report a loose dog to Animal Care and Control instead of trying to catch it.

Related: parks and trails, kids’ activities and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an off-leash dog park in Birmingham?

Yes. Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park is an off-leash, six-acre dog park with fenced areas for large, small and special needs dogs. It closes Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. for maintenance.

Are dogs allowed at Railroad Park?

Yes, on a leash and with an owner who cleans up after them, the park says. Railroad Park is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Can I bring my dog to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens?

No. The Gardens allow certified service animals only; pets and other animals are not permitted.

Who do I call about a loose dog in Birmingham?

Greater Birmingham Humane Society Animal Care and Control, which serves the city, at 205-591-6522, 24 hours a day.

Do dogs have to be on a leash in Birmingham?

The city regulates dogs running at large in its code of ordinances, and Animal Care and Control picks up loose animals. In the Jefferson County Greenways parks, dogs must stay leashed outside the fenced dog park.