Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Rapid City requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Rapid City Municipal Code § 6.08.270. A court can impose $1 to $500. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.
What the Rapid City ordinance says
| Ordinance | Rapid City Municipal Code § 6.08.270 (Pet waste); penalty §§ 6.04.060 and 1.12.010 |
|---|---|
| Fine | $1 to $500 |
| Must carry a bag | Yes |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
No set fine. § 6.04.060 applies the general penalty in § 1.12.010: a fine of not less than $1 nor more than $500, or 30 days in jail, or both.
The carry rule
§ 6.08.270(B) requires anyone accompanied by an animal on property other than his or her own to carry visible means of cleaning up fecal matter. § 6.08.270(A) bars allowing an animal to defecate on others' property and requires immediate cleanup if it does. Exemption: service animals and animals used in parades.
In practice
Because Rapid 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 South Dakota
South Dakota dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Sioux Falls dog poop law · Aberdeen dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Rapid 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.
