Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Fargo requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Fargo Municipal Code § 12-0105(B). A court can impose up to $1,000. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.
What the Fargo ordinance says
| Ordinance | Fargo Municipal Code § 12-0105(B); penalties §§ 1-0301 and 1-0305 |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $1,000 |
| Must carry a bag | Yes |
| Service animal exemption | No |
How the penalty works
No set fine. § 12-0105(B) is not listed as a Class B misdemeanor or a fee-based noncriminal offense in § 1-0305, so it is an infraction: a fine not to exceed $1,000 (§ 1-0301(B)). A person convicted of the same infraction at least twice in the prior year may be sentenced as for a Class B misdemeanor (up to $1,500 and 30 days).
The carry rule
§ 12-0105(B): every person with custody or control of a leashed animal on property other than his own 'shall be equipped to, and collect said animal's solid waste when eliminated.' Exemption: § 12-0105(G) exempts only dogs used for law enforcement.
How Fargo compares
Fargo is also stricter than Bismarck and Grand Forks on carrying: here the empty pocket is itself the offense.
In practice
Because Fargo 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 North Dakota
North Dakota dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Fargo 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.
