Boston, Massachusetts Dog Poop Law

Quick answer: Yes. Boston requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under City of Boston Code 16-1.10A. The set ticket for a first offense is $50, and $50 for a repeat. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.

What the Boston ordinance says

How the penalty works

16-1.10A(D): 'Violation of this regulation shall be punished by a fine of $50 for each occurrence.' The same $50 applies to every occurrence; there is no escalating schedule. Failing to pick up and failing to carry a bag are separate duties under subsections (A) and (B).

The carry rule

16-1.10A(B): no one may appear with a dog on any sidewalk, street, park, or other public area, or on private property they do not own or occupy, 'without the means of removal of any feces.' Subsection (C) defines the means as a plastic bag, tool, implement, or other device.

Service animals

16-1.10A(F): the rule 'shall not apply to a dog accompanying any handicapped person who, by reason of his or her handicap, is physically unable to comply,' or to 'any individual over 65 years of age accompanying a licensed dog.'

How Boston compares

At $50, the Boston ticket is the same as Worcester and Springfield. Boston is also stricter than Worcester on carrying: here the empty pocket is itself the offense.

In practice

Because Boston 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 Massachusetts

Massachusetts dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Worcester dog poop law · Springfield dog poop law. All 50 states.

Source

Checked 2026-09-10 against the Boston 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.