San Antonio, Texas Dog Poop Law

Quick answer: Yes. San Antonio requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under San Antonio City Code secs. 5-18(a) and 5-19. A court can impose $100 to $2,000. You are also required to carry a means of removal whenever you walk your dog.

What the San Antonio ordinance says

How the penalty works

Under sec. 5-21(a), an intentional, knowing or reckless violation of Chapter 5 is punishable on conviction by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $2,000; after one prior conviction under the chapter the minimum rises to $500, and to $750 for a third and later conviction. The code does not restate a separate maximum for repeat convictions; state law caps public health and sanitation ordinance fines at $2,000 (Tex. Local Gov't Code 54.001). Section 5-21 last amended by Ordinance 2025-09-11-0621.

The carry rule

Section 5-19 ('Leash and pooper scooper required'): an owner walking an animal 'shall carry a container and implement for the sanitary removal of the animal's fecal matter' from public sidewalks and rights-of-way. It also bars walking an animal onto other people's yards or driveways to defecate.

Service animals

Neither sec. 5-18 nor sec. 5-19 contains a service dog exemption.

In practice

Because San Antonio 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 Texas

Texas dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Houston dog poop law · Dallas dog poop law. All 50 states.

Source

Checked 2026-09-10 against the San Antonio 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.