Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Charleston requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Charleston Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-2(f). A court can impose up to $500.
What the Charleston ordinance says
| Ordinance | Charleston Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-2(f) (Littering regulations, chapter 14); Code 1975, 26-2; Ord. No. 1982-52 |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $500 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | No |
How the penalty works
No published amount. Chapter 14 citations direct the violator to municipal court, where the chief judge sets forfeitable bonds (14-16(a)); the bond amounts are not in the code. If prosecuted criminally, the maximum is $500 or 30 days (14-16(e), 1-16).
The carry rule
No bag-carry requirement. Applies to any owner, keeper or walker of a dog or cat, on public or private property other than the owner's or a consenting owner's. Chapter 14 also requires animal excreta put out with household trash to be sealed in a separate bag (14-50(c)). Service dogs: no exemption in 14-2(f). The city's P.U.P. (Pick Up After Your Pet) program page at charleston-sc.gov refused connections, so it is not used here.
In practice
Pick up every time, bag it, and put it in a trash can. That is the one method that satisfies every ordinance in the country. The Walk Dispenser clips to the leash and holds a full roll.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
South Carolina dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Charleston 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.
