on September 10, 2026

Iowa Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Iowa 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 $75, in Cedar Rapids.

Why Iowa leaves it to cities

Iowa has no statewide statute requiring owners to pick up dog waste; cleanup rules are set city by city. State law reaches dogs mainly through rabies tags and impoundment (Iowa Code 351.37 requires impounding a dog running at large without a valid rabies tag) and by capping what cities can charge: a municipal infraction carries a civil penalty of up to $750, or up to $1,000 for a repeat offense (Iowa Code 364.22), and a simple misdemeanor carries a fine of $105 to $855 (Iowa Code 903.1).

  • Dogs running at large without rabies tag: impoundment: Iowa Code 351.37 (read it)
  • Municipal infraction civil penalty caps ($750 / $1,000 repeat): Iowa Code 364.22 (read it)
  • Simple misdemeanor fine range ($105 to $855): Iowa Code 903.1(1)(a) (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in Iowa'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
Des Moines Des Moines Municipal Code Sec. 18-6 (Removal of animal waste); penalty Sec. 18-13 and Sec. 1-15 Up to $750 No
Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids Municipal Code 23.15(b) (Unhealthful or unsanitary conditions); scheduled fines 23.33; parks 10.11(d) $75 No
Davenport Davenport Municipal Code 6.04.080 (Removal of excrement); scheduled fines 6.04.170(D)(2). Chapter 6.04 repealed and replaced by Ord. No. 2025-224, adopted 5-28-2025 $30 No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

None of the cities we checked in Iowa 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 Iowa

  • Davenport rewrote its animal chapter on 5-28-2025 (Ord. No. 2025-224). The new code schedules pet-waste fines at $30, $40, $50, then up to $200, while the city's own Pet Waste web page still tells residents fines run $250 to $750. The code controls; the web page appears out of date.
  • Cedar Rapids doubles its scheduled $75/$150/$300 fines when the animal is not spayed or neutered (23.33).
  • Des Moines' rule covers dogs, cats and horses alike, with a carve-out for police horses as long as police arrange cleanup at the end of the tour of duty (18-6(b)).
  • State law caps Iowa city fines: municipal infractions top out at $750 ($1,000 repeat) under Iowa Code 364.22, which is why no Iowa city pet-waste fine can exceed that as a civil penalty.

Common questions

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

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 Iowa?

It depends on the city. Des Moines: Up to $750. Cedar Rapids: $75. Davenport: $30.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Iowa?

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

Other states in the Midwest

Illinois · Ohio · Michigan · Indiana · Missouri · Wisconsin · Minnesota · 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.