Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Aberdeen requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Aberdeen City Code § 8-42. A court can impose up to $500. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.
What the Aberdeen ordinance says
| Ordinance | Aberdeen City Code § 8-42 (Pet waste); general penalty § 1-10 |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $500 |
| Must carry a bag | Yes |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
No set fine. With no specific penalty in Chapter 8, Article II, § 1-10(c) applies the maximum fine and jail allowed for a Class 2 misdemeanor under state law ($500 and 30 days under SDCL 22-6-2(2)), plus costs of prosecution.
The carry rule
§ 8-42(b) requires anyone accompanied by an animal on public or private property other than his or her own to carry visible means of cleaning up fecal matter. Exemption: service animals, law enforcement animals and parade animals.
In practice
Because Aberdeen requires you to carry a way to clean up, the simplest way to stay on the right side of it is to keep bags on the leash itself, so they leave the house every time the dog does. The Walk Dispenser clips to the leash and holds a full roll.
Elsewhere in South Dakota
South Dakota dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Sioux Falls dog poop law · Rapid City dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Aberdeen municipal code. Codes change, so read the current version before relying on this for an actual citation.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
