on September 10, 2026

New York Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: New York 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. New York City publishes a set ticket of $250.

Why New York leaves it to cities

New York has no dog-waste law that applies statewide. The one state statute on the subject, Public Health Law § 1310, covers only cities of 400,000 or more residents plus Yonkers and Albany, which it names. New York City is the only city above the population threshold, so in practice the statute reaches New York City, Yonkers and Albany. It requires removal of dog feces from any sidewalk, gutter, street or other public area, caps the penalty at a fine or civil penalty of not more than $250, lets New York City appearance tickets be returned to the Environmental Control Board (now within OATH), and exempts guide, hearing and service dogs accompanying a person with a disability. Buffalo, the second-largest city, is not covered. There is also no statewide leash law: Agriculture and Markets Law § 122 leaves the keeping and running at large of dogs to local laws, and § 117 only directs dog control officers to seize dogs that are unidentified and off the owner's premises, unlicensed, believed dangerous while out of control, or an immediate threat to public safety.

  • Removal of canine wastes (NYC, Yonkers and Albany only): N.Y. Public Health Law § 1310 (read it)
  • Local laws on keeping or running at large of dogs: N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law § 122 (read it)
  • Seizure of dogs (no statewide leash mandate): N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law § 117 (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in New York'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
New York City N.Y. Public Health Law § 1310 (enforced by DSNY; penalty in the DSNY penalty schedule, 16 RCNY § 19-103); also NYC Health Code § 161.03 (animal nuisance) $250 No
Buffalo Buffalo City Code § 78-19.1(C) (Chapter 78, Animals, Article IV, Control of Dogs) Could not verify No
Yonkers Yonkers City Code § 65-12 (penalty class set by § 65-26(C), amended by General Ordinance GO 3-2026) Could not verify No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

None of the cities we checked in New York 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 New York

  • PHL § 1310 is a state statute that names individual cities: it applies only to cities of 400,000 or more (in practice New York City) plus Yonkers and Albany. Yonkers is covered by name, while Buffalo, the state's second-largest city, is not.
  • New York City enforcement is rare: a May 2026 analysis published by BetaNYC and the Manhattan Borough President's Office found that only two summonses for failure to remove canine waste were issued citywide in all of 2025.
  • The NYC Council reported 821 dog-waste complaints to 311 in January and February 2026, up 35.8% from the same period a year earlier, after back-to-back snowstorms.
  • NYC SCOOP Act: Int. 857-A, requiring DSNY to install and refill dog waste bag dispensers on public litter baskets, was approved by the City Council on August 13, 2026 and was at the Mayor's desk for signature as of 2026-09-10. The package also includes bills on dog-run composting, signage, public education, and DSNY follow-up after repeated complaints on a block.
  • In New York City, DSNY holds property owners responsible for removing animal waste from abutting sidewalks, gutters (18 inches from the curb) and open front yards, even if the waste is not from their pet.
  • Yonkers raised the offense class for not picking up after a dog from Class III to Class II (GO 3-2026, adopted March 24, 2026); the sponsor's memo says the purpose is to increase the penalty for failing to clean up after a dog.
  • Buffalo's rule is broader in place than the state statute: it covers feces left on any property within city limits, public or private, and requires deposit in a sealed refuse container.

Common questions

Is it illegal to not pick up dog poop in New York?

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 New York?

It depends on the city. New York City: $250. Buffalo and Yonkers do not publish an amount.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in New York?

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

Are service dog handlers exempt?

In New York City, Buffalo and Yonkers, 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 Northeast

Pennsylvania · New Jersey · Massachusetts · Connecticut · New Hampshire · Maine · Rhode Island · Vermont

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.