on September 10, 2026

Delaware Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Delaware has no statewide pooper scooper law. Picking up after your dog is regulated city by city, and all three of the largest cities we checked have an ordinance requiring it. None of them uses a set ticket amount. Fines are set by a judge within a range the code allows.

Why Delaware leaves it to cities

Delaware has no statewide dog waste pickup law, but it does have a statewide leash law. 16 Del. C. § 3048F says a dog 'may not run at large outside at any time' and 'must be secured by means of a leash,' unless it is on the owner's property, on private property with permission, in a vehicle, in a designated off-leash area, or a working dog (including dogs assisting persons with disabilities) actively performing its function. The civil penalty is $50 for a first violation and $200 for a subsequent violation within 12 months (not suspendable). The only statewide excreta rule, 16 Del. C. § 3044F(e)(5), requires daily removal of excreta from primary enclosures and is a care standard, not a public pickup rule. Pickup rules and fines are municipal. Verified 2026-09-10.

  • Statewide leash law: dogs running at large ($50 first, $200 repeat within 12 months): 16 Del. C. § 3048F (read it)
  • Excreta removal from primary enclosures (care standard, not public pickup): 16 Del. C. § 3044F(e)(5) (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in Delaware's largest cities

Each row comes from the city's own municipal code. "Up to" is the most a court can impose, not a standard ticket. Where a city publishes no amount, we say so rather than estimate one.

City Ordinance Fine Must carry a bag
Wilmington Wilmington City Code § 3-12 (Removal of fecal matter of dogs, cats, pigeons and other animals or domestic birds) At least $250 No
Dover Dover Code of Ordinances § 18-8 (Excrement); fines in Appendix F, Chapter 18 At least $25 No
Newark Newark Code of Ordinances § 5-6(c) (removal of animal fecal matter); penalty § 5-6(d) At least $50 No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

None of the cities we checked in Delaware spell out a separate duty to carry a bag, but the pickup duty applies the moment your dog goes, and "I did not have a bag" is not a defense in any of them.

A bag holder on the leash solves that for good. Ours is the Walk Dispenser, which clips on and holds a full roll.

Worth knowing about Delaware

  • Delaware has a statewide leash law (16 Del. C. § 3048F): $50 for a first violation, $200 for a repeat within 12 months, and $500 or $1,000 civil penalties if a dog running at large bites a person or a protected domestic animal.
  • Wilmington's dog waste fines are the steepest in this batch: $250 to $1,000 for a first conviction, and a nonsuspendable $1,000 minimum (up to $5,000 or 30 days in jail) for a third (§ 3-12(c)); enforcement requires a complaining witness (§ 3-12(b)).
  • Dover's minimum fines are mandatory and nonsuspendable, and double if unpaid after 14 days (Appendix F, Chapter 18).
  • Newark separately penalizes letting waste pile up at home after a 12-hour cleanup notice, with minimums of $100, $200 and $300 (§ 5-6).

Common questions

Is it illegal to not pick up dog poop in Delaware?

There is no statewide law, but every one of the largest cities we checked has a pickup rule, and most smaller towns have similar ordinances. Check your own city or county code.

How much is the fine for not picking up dog poop in Delaware?

It depends on the city. Wilmington: At least $250. Dover: At least $25. Newark: At least $50.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Delaware?

Not as a separate rule in the cities we checked. You still have to pick up, so in practice you need one.

Are service dog handlers exempt?

In Wilmington and Dover, the ordinance exempts handlers who have a disability and cannot physically pick up. The exemption covers the handler, not the dog.

Other states in the South

Texas · Florida · Georgia · North Carolina · Virginia · Tennessee · Maryland · South Carolina

See all 50 states · How scoop laws work in general

Sources

Checked 2026-09-10. Ordinances change, so if you are dealing with an actual citation, read the current code at the link rather than relying on this page.

This page is general information, not legal advice.