Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Louisville requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances 91.010. A court can impose $150 to $1,000. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.
What the Louisville ordinance says
| Ordinance | 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 |
|---|---|
| Fine | $150 to $1,000 |
| Must carry a bag | Yes |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
Not published as a set amount. Under 91.999(B)(2), a civil citation under Chapter 91 (unless otherwise specified) carries a penalty of $150 to $1,000, payable at the minimum within seven days or appealed to the Code Enforcement Board, with subsequent offenses cumulated as multiples of the number of previous offenses. A criminal citation is a Class B misdemeanor: $5 to $250 and/or 5 to 90 days (91.999(A)(2)). The code does not say which track is used for 91.010. The Director may waive or reduce civil penalties for financial hardship or completion of an education course (91.999(B)(5)).
The carry rule
Yes. A person with an animal on school grounds, Metro parks, other public property, streets, sidewalks, highways, rights-of-way, or others' private property without permission must have a suitable device for picking up and disposing of feces (91.010(A)(1)). Covers domestic animals and other four-footed mammals plus poultry and fowl; designated bridle paths are excepted. Service dogs: does not apply to blind, visually impaired or disabled persons accompanied by an assistance dog (91.010(B)).
How Louisville compares
Unlike Bowling Green ($25), Louisville has no set ticket, so the amount is decided when a citation is heard. Louisville is also stricter than Lexington and Bowling Green on carrying: here the empty pocket is itself the offense.
In practice
Because Louisville 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 Kentucky
Kentucky dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Bowling Green dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Louisville 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.
