Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Jersey City requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Jersey City Code § 90-20. A court can impose up to $2,000. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.
What the Jersey City ordinance says
| Ordinance | Jersey City Code § 90-20, Removal and disposal of animal feces (penalty via § 90-22B and § 1-25) |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $2,000 |
| Must carry a bag | Yes |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
No pet-waste-specific fine is published. § 90-22B sends violations of the animals article to the general penalty in § 1-25, which allows, at the court's discretion, a fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail and/or up to 90 days of community service. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense. The $2,000 figure is a ceiling, not a typical ticket amount.
The carry rule
§ 90-20C: it is unlawful to walk any animal on city property or on another person's private property 'without carrying at all times a suitable container or other suitable instrument for the removal and disposal of animal feces.'
Service animals
Narrow exemption. § 90-20D exempts 'handicapped persons who use Seeing Eye dogs'; it does not mention other service dogs. Dogs taking part in dog shows or obedience classes are also exempt during the event, but feces must be removed when it ends.
How Jersey City compares
Jersey City is also stricter than Newark and Paterson on carrying: here the empty pocket is itself the offense.
In practice
Because Jersey City 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 New Jersey
New Jersey dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Newark dog poop law · Paterson dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Jersey City 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.
