Dog-friendly Horizon West: parks, patios, trails and leash rules

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Park facts come from Orange County Parks and Recreation’s park listings; pet rules from Orange County Animal Services and the county’s West Orange Trail page; venue details from each business’s own site. Animal Services: dial 311 or 407-836-3111.

Horizon West is unincorporated, so Orange County’s animal rules and parks apply here. The county has a dog park at Summerport Neighborhood Park, and three newer Horizon West parks allow leashed pets. On county trails, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Off-leash play is for fenced dog parks; Tibet-Butler Preserve does not allow pets at all.

Who to call

• Orange County Animal Services (lost pets, bites, stray dogs): 311 or 407-836-3111
• Orange County Parks and Recreation: 407-836-6200
• Emergencies: 911

Parks

Amenities are as the county lists them. Most county parks are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter. More on each park is on our parks and trails guide.

Trails

The West Orange Trail runs 22 miles of paved path from the Orange-Lake county line through Winter Garden to Apopka. The county’s trail rules say pets must be controlled on a leash no longer than 6 feet and owners must clean up after them. Trails are open sunrise to sunset. Routes and trailheads are on our walking and biking trails guide.

Patios

• Home State Brewing Co., 16016 New Independence Parkway, Hamlin: “Dog Friendly on Covered Patio and Biergarten,” the brewery’s website says. Check the site for current hours.

Other restaurants set their own patio rules, so ask before you sit down. Restaurants that welcome dogs can tell us.

Dog events

• Horizon West Pet Fest, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, on the Lake District green space at Hamlin, 14111 Shoreside Way, with pet contests, vendors and adoptions, according to Hamlin.
• Wag and Waddle Pet Run/Walk: Halloween Edition, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at The Grove Park, 2002 Packing District Way, Orlando, from Florida Running Company.
• The Hamlin Craft Beer Festival in March 2026 billed itself as dog-friendly.

Rules and records

• Leashes: on county trails, a leash no longer than 6 feet; clean up after your dog.
• Rabies vaccination is required for pets 4 months and older, and Orange County does not require pet registration or set a pet limit, Animal Services says.
• County code: animal rules are in Chapter 5 of the Orange County Code, most recently amended by Ordinance No. 2026-06.
• Lost or found dog: report it through Animal Services’ lost and found page.

What this means for you

• For off-leash play, go to the Summerport dog park.
• Leave the dog at home for Tibet-Butler Preserve and Southern Hill Farms’ u-pick, which says pets are not permitted.
• Keep a 6-foot leash in the car for the West Orange Trail.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a dog park in Horizon West?

Yes. Summerport Neighborhood Park, 14491 Bridgewater Crossings Blvd., has a dog park, Orange County Parks and Recreation says. It is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter.

Do dogs have to be on a leash in Horizon West parks?

Yes. On Orange County trails pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and owners must clean up after them. Summerlake, Taborfield and Watermark parks list leashed pets as allowed.

Can I take my dog to Tibet-Butler Preserve?

No. Pets are not allowed in Tibet-Butler Preserve, except ADA service animals, the county says.

Are there dog-friendly restaurants in Hamlin?

Home State Brewing Co., 16016 New Independence Parkway, says it is dog friendly on its covered patio and biergarten.

Do I need to register my dog in Orange County?

Orange County Animal Services says no pet registration is required, but rabies vaccination is required for pets 4 months and older.