Posted by Waste Happy
on September 10, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Virginia Beach requires dog owners to pick up after their dogs under Virginia Beach City Code § 5-534. A court can impose up to $250.
What the Virginia Beach ordinance says
| Ordinance | Virginia Beach City Code § 5-534, Allowing dogs or horses to urinate or defecate on public or private property (penalty via § 5-100); beaches and boardwalk: § 6-5(g) |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to $250 |
| Must carry a bag | No |
| Service animal exemption | No |
How the penalty works
§ 5-534 has no penalty of its own, so § 5-100 applies: a violation of Chapter 5 is a Class 4 misdemeanor, which under Va. Code § 18.2-11(d) carries a fine of up to $250. On the sand beaches citywide, and on the Oceanfront boardwalk and the grassy area west of it from Rudee Inlet to 42nd Street, failing to remove feces is a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 6-5(g), punishable by up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail. No repeat-offense schedule is published.
The carry rule
No bag-carry requirement. § 5-534(2) excuses defecation on public property only if the handler 'immediately removes the material' and disposes of it in a safe and sanitary manner. On beaches and the boardwalk, § 6-5(g) calls for sanitary disposal, such as sealing the feces in an airtight wrapper or container and placing it in a garbage receptacle.
Service animals
§ 5-534 has no service-dog exemption. § 6-5(i) exempts guide, hearing, and service dogs from the beach restrictions but expressly excludes the feces-removal rule in § 6-5(g), so service dog handlers must still pick up on the beach and boardwalk.
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 Virginia
Virginia dog poop laws covers the state and its other large cities. Nearby: Chesapeake dog poop law · Norfolk dog poop law. All 50 states.
Source
Checked 2026-09-10 against the Virginia Beach 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.
