Rochester, Minnesota Dog Poop Law

Quick answer: Yes. Rochester requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Rochester Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-1-8(a). The city does not publish a set fine amount.

What the Rochester ordinance says

How the penalty works

No dog-waste-specific amount published. 3-1-8(b) makes a violation a petty misdemeanor (state maximum $300, Minn. Stat. 609.02 subd. 4a). Chapter 3-1 is also an administrative offense under 1-2-3, with civil fines set by council resolution (1-2-4(c)). The city's 2026 fee schedule (https://www.rochestermn.gov/media/auhfqac5/fee-schedule-test-final.pdf) has no dog-waste line; its default for a 'City Issued Violation not separately identified' is $60, which would appear to apply to an administrative citation, but the city does not state that for this section.

The carry rule

No bag-carry requirement; the person must immediately remove the excrement and place it in a proper receptacle. Applies to dogs and cats on public property, or on private property without the owner's consent. Service dogs: exempts Seeing-Eye dogs under the control of a blind person, and dogs in city police activity (narrower than a general service-animal exemption).

How Rochester compares

Unlike Minneapolis ($25), Rochester has no set ticket, so the amount is decided when a citation is heard.

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 Minnesota

Minnesota dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Minneapolis dog poop law · Saint Paul dog poop law. All 50 states.

Source

Checked 2026-09-10 against the Rochester 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.