Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Knoxville requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Knoxville City Code § 5-33. The set ticket for a first offense is $25, and $50 for a repeat.
What the Knoxville ordinance says
| Ordinance | Knoxville City Code § 5-33, Animals causing unsanitary conditions (last amended Ord. No. O-171-2023, 12-12-23) |
|---|---|
| Fine | $25 |
| Repeat offense | $50 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
§ 5-33(b): 'First offense: Twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fine. Second and subsequent offenses: Fifty dollar ($50.00) fine per occurrence.' Enforcement is unusual: inside the central business improvement district (downtown), the animal shelter can enforce the rule or a private complaint can be filed in city court; everywhere else, enforcement is limited to a private complaint filed in city court.
The carry rule
No bag-carry requirement. The owner or custodian is responsible for removing waste deposited on another's property, 'including, but not limited to sidewalks, greenways, parks and other public areas.' Knoxville's parks code (§ 20-61) separately prohibits neglecting to clean up animal waste in parks.
Service animals
§ 5-33(c): 'This section shall not apply to guide dogs and other service animals.'
How Knoxville compares
At $25, the Knoxville ticket is lower than Nashville ($50).
In practice
Pick up every time, bag it, and put it in a trash can. That is the one method that satisfies every ordinance in the country. The Walk Dispenser clips to the leash and holds a full roll.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
Tennessee dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Nashville dog poop law · Memphis dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Knoxville 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.
