San Jose, California Dog Poop Law

Quick answer: Yes. San Jose requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under SJMC sec. 7.40.010(A)(1)-(2). A court can impose up to $100.

What the San Jose ordinance says

How the penalty works

Section 1.08.020 designates 7.40.010 an infraction. Under 1.08.010(D) an infraction is punishable by a fine of up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation of the same provision within one year and up to $500 for a third within one year; a fourth violation within one year is a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and/or six months). These match the state caps in Government Code 36900(b). The city may also issue administrative citations (Chapter 1.15) at amounts set in a council fine schedule resolution; that resolution could not be retrieved (the city records server redirects the PDF), so no administrative amount is recorded. Code codified through Ordinance 31330 (June 16, 2026).

The carry rule

Not required in general. Carrying 'a suitable container or other suitable instrument for the removal and disposal of dog feces' is required only inside posted off-leash areas (SJMC 7.40.050(B)(6)(a)).

Service animals

Section 7.40.010 contains no service dog exemption.

How San Jose compares

Unlike Los Angeles ($100), San Jose 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 California

California dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Los Angeles dog poop law · San Diego dog poop law. All 50 states.

Source

Checked 2026-09-10 against the San Jose 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.