Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Chesapeake requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Chesapeake City Code § 10-23. A court can impose up to $250.
What the Chesapeake ordinance says
| Ordinance | Chesapeake City Code § 10-23, Defecation (penalty via § 10-20) |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $250 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | No |
How the penalty works
§ 10-23 has no penalty of its own. § 10-20 makes any Chapter 10 violation without a specific penalty a Class 4 misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $250 under Va. Code § 18.2-11(d). No repeat-offense schedule is published.
The carry rule
No bag-carry requirement. Defecation on public property is not a violation if the owner 'immediately removes the material defecated and disposes of it in a safe and sanitary manner' (§ 10-23(b)). Allowing a dog to defecate on someone else's property without consent is a violation on its own (§ 10-23(a)).
Service animals
§ 10-23 contains no service-dog exemption.
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 Virginia
Virginia dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Virginia Beach dog poop law · Norfolk dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Chesapeake 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.
