on September 10, 2026

Kentucky Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Kentucky 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. Bowling Green publishes a set ticket of $25.

Why Kentucky leaves it to cities

Kentucky has no statewide pickup law. KRS 258.265(1) does require every owner to exercise proper care and control of a dog to prevent it from violating any local government nuisance ordinance, which ties state law to each city's own rule, and KRS 258.365 preserves local dog ordinances that are not inconsistent with Chapter 258. KRS 258.265 was most recently amended by 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 52, effective July 15, 2026.

  • Owner must control dog to prevent violation of local nuisance ordinances; dogs at large at night: KRS 258.265 (read it)
  • Local dog ordinances not preempted if consistent with Chapter 258: KRS 258.365 (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in Kentucky'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
Louisville Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances 91.010 (Sanitary disposal of animal feces required); Lou. Metro Ord. No. 97-2003, amended through Ord. No. 79-2012 $150 to $1,000 Yes
Lexington Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Code of Ordinances Sec. 4-23.1; Ord. No. 122-91, Ord. No. 39-93 Up to $50 No
Bowling Green Bowling Green Code of Ordinances 5-1.10 (Removal of Animal Waste); Ord. BG2006-5, Ord. BG2024-18 (12-3-2024) $25 No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

In Louisville, the law does not just require you to pick up. It requires you to be carrying something to pick up with, so walking out without a bag can be an offense on its own even if your dog never goes.

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 Kentucky

  • KRS 258.265 makes it a state-law duty for owners to keep their dogs from violating local nuisance ordinances; the section was amended effective July 15, 2026 (2026 Ky. Acts ch. 52).
  • Lexington's pickup rule applies only inside the Urban Service Boundary, so rural parts of Fayette County are not covered.
  • Louisville's rule reaches poultry, fowl and all four-footed mammals, not only dogs, and requires carrying a pickup device.
  • Bowling Green counts repeat offenses over a five-year lookback and lets its hearing board double fines when a citation is contested.

Common questions

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

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 Kentucky?

It depends on the city. Louisville: $150 to $1,000. Lexington: Up to $50. Bowling Green: $25.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Kentucky?

In Louisville, yes. The ordinance requires you to have a means of removal with you while walking your dog.

Are service dog handlers exempt?

In Louisville, 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 South

Texas · Florida · Georgia · North Carolina · Virginia · Tennessee · Maryland · South Carolina

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.