Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Tampa requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Tampa City Code Sec. 19-79. The set ticket for a first offense is $150, and $300 for a repeat.
What the Tampa ordinance says
| Ordinance | Tampa City Code Sec. 19-79 (Class II violation under the civil citation schedule, Sec. 23.5-5(b)); Sec. 16-38(f) covers parks and other department managed land |
|---|---|
| Fine | $150 |
| Repeat offense | $300 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | Yes |
How the penalty works
Sec. 19-79 is listed as a Class II violation in Sec. 23.5-5(b): $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second and $450 for a third or subsequent offense. Under Sec. 23.5-4, the civil maximum is $500, third and later violations require a mandatory county court appearance, and an officer must normally give notice and up to 21 days to correct before issuing a citation unless the violation is a repeat, a serious threat to public health, safety or welfare, or irreparable. The parks rule, Sec. 16-38(f), has no fine of its own; Sec. 16-5 applies the Sec. 1-6 general penalty (fine up to $500 and/or up to 60 days in jail and/or up to 6 months of probation).
The carry rule
Sec. 19-79 and Sec. 16-38(f) require immediate removal only; no requirement to carry bags or tools.
Service animals
Sec. 19-79(b) exempts utility or assistance animals and police animals. Tampa's Chapter 27 definitions (applied to this article by Sec. 19-71) define a utility or assistance animal broadly as any animal which assists people or entities in the completion of daily or official tasks. The parks rule, Sec. 16-38(f), exempts service animals and police animals.
How Tampa compares
At $150, the Tampa ticket is higher than Miami ($100).
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 Florida
Florida dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Jacksonville dog poop law · Miami dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Tampa 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.
