on September 10, 2026

Indiana Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Indiana 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. Evansville publishes a set ticket of $40.

Why Indiana leaves it to cities

Indiana has no statewide law requiring people to pick up after their dogs. Pick-up and leash rules are written by cities and counties under Indiana's home rule law. The state does set the outer limits on local penalties: IC 36-1-3-8(a)(9) bars local governments from imposing jail time for an ordinance violation, and IC 36-1-3-8(a)(10)(B) caps ordinance fines at $2,500 for a first violation and $7,500 for a second or subsequent violation. As a result, dog-waste violations in Indiana cities are civil fines, and no Indiana city can charge more than those amounts.

  • Home rule limits: no jail for ordinance violations; fine caps of $2,500 (first) and $7,500 (repeat): IC 36-1-3-8(a)(9), (a)(10)(B) (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in Indiana'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
Indianapolis Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County (Indianapolis-Marion County) § 531-203, Dog and cat curbing requirements; penalty under § 531-203(d) and § 103-3 Up to $2,500 No
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Code of Ordinances § 91.018, Removal of excrement (Ord. G-23-18); penalty under § 91.999(A) $50 to $2,500 No
Evansville Evansville Municipal Code § 6.05.040(A)(2) (permitting an animal nuisance), with 'animal nuisance' defined in § 6.05.020 to include an animal that defecates on a public right-of-way or on another's property; fines under § 6.05.180(B) $40 No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

None of the cities we checked in Indiana 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 Indiana

  • Indiana law forbids jail time for any city ordinance violation and caps ordinance fines at $2,500 for a first offense and $7,500 for later ones (IC 36-1-3-8). Every Indiana pick-up fine sits under that ceiling.
  • Evansville is one of the few large cities with no dedicated pick-up ordinance. It treats a dog that defecates on a public right-of-way, or leaves waste on someone else's property, as an 'animal nuisance' with an escalating $40, $150, $500 schedule.
  • Indianapolis sets a floor rather than a ticket amount: at least $25, with no fixed amount on its Ordinance Violations Bureau schedule. Its rule also covers cats.
  • Fort Wayne's range is wide, $50 to $2,500 per offense, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.

Common questions

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

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 Indiana?

It depends on the city. Indianapolis: Up to $2,500. Fort Wayne: $50 to $2,500. Evansville: $40.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Indiana?

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 Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, 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 Midwest

Illinois · Ohio · Michigan · Missouri · Wisconsin · Minnesota · Iowa · Kansas

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.