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. 10-7. A court can impose $10 to $25. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.
What the Charleston ordinance says
| Ordinance | Charleston Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-7 (Animal owner responsibility for removal of animal excrement; fines) |
|---|---|
| Fine | $10 to $25 |
| Must carry a bag | Yes |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
Not less than $10 nor more than $25, plus court costs; the municipal judge has no authority to suspend any part of the fine (Sec. 10-7(d)).
The carry rule
Yes. 10-7(a) makes it unlawful to appear with an animal on a public right-of-way, in public places, or on another person's property without consent 'without some means for removal of excrement'. Exemption (10-7(c)): people with a physical disability or visual impairment using service dogs who can show a humane or police officer documentation that the dog was trained by an accredited service-dog institution.
How Charleston compares
Unlike Morgantown ($25), Charleston has no set ticket, so the amount is decided when a citation is heard. Charleston is also stricter than Morgantown on carrying: here the empty pocket is itself the offense.
In practice
Because Charleston 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 West Virginia
West Virginia dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Huntington dog poop law. 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.
