Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Greensboro requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Greensboro City Code Sec. 5-5(2)b. The set ticket for a first offense is $100, and $300 for a repeat.
What the Greensboro ordinance says
| Ordinance | Greensboro City Code Sec. 5-5(2)b (nuisance animals: allowing an animal to defecate on the property of another), which restates Guilford County Code Sec. 5-10(b)(2); Sec. 5-2 adopts the Guilford County animal ordinance by reference |
|---|---|
| Fine | $100 |
| Repeat offense | $300 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | No |
How the penalty works
Greensboro's own code sets no dollar amount. Under Sec. 5-2 the Guilford County animal ordinance (county Chapter 5) is adopted by reference and enforced in the city under an interlocal agreement. The county's Animal Control Civil Penalty Fee Schedule, an appendix to county Chapter 5, lists Sec. 5-10 public nuisance at $100 first violation, $300 second, $500 third and subsequent. County Sec. 5-27 says that appendix "shall not be considered part of the Ordinance" and may be amended by the Board of Commissioners. County Sec. 5-27(a) also makes violations a misdemeanor "punishable as provided in G.S. 14-4"; because it states no maximum fine, G.S. 14-4(a) as amended in 2021 appears to limit any criminal fine to $50.
The carry rule
The rule is framed as a nuisance ("defecating upon the property of another"), not as an express duty to pick up, and it does not mention public property specifically. Neither Greensboro Sec. 5-5 nor county Sec. 5-10 requires carrying bags. City park rules are set by the city manager under Sec. 19-1 and are not in the code; they were not reviewed.
Service animals
No guide or service dog exemption in Greensboro Sec. 5-5 or Guilford County Sec. 5-10.
How Greensboro compares
At $100, the Greensboro ticket is higher than Charlotte ($50), and the same as Raleigh.
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 North Carolina
North Carolina dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Charlotte dog poop law · Raleigh dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Greensboro 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.
