Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Only in some places. Columbus' pickup rule, Columbus City Codes 919.16(C), applies only in parks, so elsewhere in the city there is no specific requirement. A court can impose up to $100.
What the Columbus ordinance says
| Ordinance | Columbus City Codes 919.16(C) (pet owner responsibility, park and reservoir property); penalty 919.99(A) |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $100 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
919.99(A) makes a 919.16(C) violation a minor misdemeanor 'fined not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00)'. That is below the $150 statewide cap for a minor misdemeanor in ORC 2929.28. There is no separate repeat tier. The rule only covers park and reservoir property: a full-text search of the Columbus City Codes (Supp. No. 85, codified through Ordinance No. 0923-2026, Municode) found no general pickup rule for sidewalks, streets, or private property. Off park land, the nearest rule is 2327.11(B), which treats a dog that 'commits any nuisance upon property other than that of its owner' as prima facie evidence the dog is not under direct control. For a dog, 2327.11 is a misdemeanor of the third degree (ORC 2929.28 cap $500). Columbus Board of Health regulations, which sit outside the city code (2327.02 cross-references them), were not checked.
The carry rule
919.16(C) requires collecting and removing feces from park or reservoir property but does not require carrying a bag or tool. No carry rule was found anywhere in the Columbus City Codes.
Service animals
919.16(D) exempts the owner or handler of an animal assisting a blind or intellectually disabled person, but only when that person is unaware the animal defecated or cannot comply. It also exempts law enforcement personnel handling an animal on official duty.
How Columbus compares
Unlike Cincinnati ($75), Columbus has no set ticket, so the amount is decided when a citation is heard.
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 Ohio
Ohio dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Cincinnati dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Columbus 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.
