Toronto city council has approved a plan to restrict dogs to off-leash areas all year at Kew-Balmy beach in the city's east end. (CBC) (CBC)

Toronto city council has approved a plan to ban dogs from the city's eastern beaches year-round, except in designated off-leash areas.

Dog owners in the Beaches neighbourhood petitioned the city to rethink the proposal — but lost their battle when council voted Tuesday to approve a year-round restriction.

The move is part of the city's efforts to meet the international Blue Flag standard, which designates that beaches are safe for swimming.

To receive the Blue Flag status, Toronto needs to make sure the beaches are dog-free year-round.

Tuesday's vote applies to the Kew and Balmy beaches, which run in a continuous link from the foot of Woodbine Avenue to the foot of Silverbirch Avenue in the east end.

Dog owners in the Beaches already have an off-leash area where dog owners can take their pets for a swim. But during the winter, some have been using more of the Lake Ontario waterfront as an undesignated off-leash area.

City staff, hoping to get Blue Flag approval, were worried that the waste left behind after the snow melts would pose a health hazard.

The council motion now means dogs will be prevented from running free on those sections of the beach.

Toronto has six Blue Flag beaches and intends to bring that up to 11, including Kew-Balmy.