on September 10, 2026

Idaho Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Idaho 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. The highest set ticket among them is $25, in Boise.

Why Idaho leaves it to cities

Idaho has no statewide statute requiring dog-waste pickup. Cities regulate animals running at large under Idaho Code 50-319. The state dog-at-large statute (Idaho Code 25-2805) makes it an infraction to let a dog run at large after a complaint is served by the sheriff; it does not address waste.

  • City authority to regulate animals at large: Idaho Code 50-319 (read it)
  • Dogs running at large: infraction: Idaho Code 25-2805 (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in Idaho'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
Boise Boise City Code 5-1-7(E) (Responsibility to clean up after dog); parks 7-7A-8(B); amounts in the City Master Fine Schedule $25 No
Meridian Meridian City Code 6-2-8(S) (Removal of dog feces) $25 No
Nampa Nampa City Code 9-5-9(C) (Cleaning after dog); penalty 9-5-10 and 1-1-7(B) Not published No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

None of the cities we checked in Idaho 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 Idaho

  • Boise is one of the few large cities anywhere that writes a service-dog exemption into its cleanup rule, alongside exemptions for police and search-and-rescue dogs working an emergency (5-1-7(E)(2)).
  • Boise and Meridian, the state's two largest cities, both fine $25, among the lowest amounts published in this batch.
  • Nampa's rule covers only public property, not a neighbor's lawn.

Common questions

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

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 Idaho?

It depends on the city. Boise: $25. Meridian: $25. Nampa does not publish an amount.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Idaho?

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 Boise, 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 West

California · Washington · Arizona · Colorado · Oregon · Utah · Nevada · New Mexico

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.