on September 10, 2026

Washington Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Washington has no statewide pooper scooper law. Picking up after your dog is regulated city by city, and all three of the largest cities we checked have an ordinance requiring it. Seattle publishes a set ticket of $54.

Why Washington leaves it to cities

Washington has no statewide law requiring dog owners to pick up after their dogs on public or private property. Cities and counties set the rule in their own animal control codes. All three of the largest cities treat a violation as a civil infraction or civil violation (a ticket, not a crime). State law caps those tickets: under RCW 7.80.120 a Class 1 civil infraction carries a maximum and default penalty of $250, Class 2 $125, Class 3 $50, and Class 4 $25, not including statutory assessments. Inside Washington state parks, a statewide rule applies: WAC 352-32-060(6) requires anyone bringing a pet into a state park area to put animal feces in a plastic or paper sack and deposit it in a trash container, and WAC 352-32-060(1) requires a leash no longer than eight feet. A violation of that park rule is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.

  • Washington State Parks pet rule: bag and trash dog feces; 8-foot leash: WAC 352-32-060(1), (6), (10) (read it)
  • Civil infraction penalty classes that cap city pick-up tickets: RCW 7.80.120 (read it)

Pooper scooper laws in Washington's largest cities

Each row comes from the city's own municipal code. "Up to" is the most a court can impose, not a standard ticket. Where a city publishes no amount, we say so rather than estimate one.

City Ordinance Fine Must carry a bag
Seattle Seattle Municipal Code 9.25.082(B) (failure to remove) and 9.25.082(C) (failure to carry removal equipment); penalty under SMC 9.25.100(B) $54 Yes
Spokane Spokane Municipal Code 10.74.070, Offenses Relating to Safety and Sanitation (Ord. C36702, effective August 24, 2025) Not published Yes
Tacoma Tacoma Municipal Code 17.02.132, Removal of animal waste (penalty under TMC 17.02.160) Up to $250 No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

In Seattle and Spokane, the law does not just require you to pick up. It requires you to be carrying something to pick up with, so walking out without a bag can be an offense on its own even if your dog never goes.

A bag holder on the leash solves that for good. Ours is the Walk Dispenser, which clips on and holds a full roll.

Worth knowing about Washington

  • Seattle publishes an exact fine schedule, which is rare: $54 for leaving dog waste on public property or someone else's property, another $54 for walking a dog without a bag or other removal equipment, and $109 for letting waste pile up in your own yard, where it must be cleaned up at least every 24 hours.
  • Spokane rewrote its pick-up rule in 2025 (Ord. C36702, effective August 24, 2025). It applies only on 'developed' property (landscaped, paved, sidewalks, lawns, swales, play or sports areas), and like Seattle it requires carrying removal equipment.
  • Spokane does not write its own general animal code. It adopts Spokane County Code chapter 5.04 by reference (SMC 10.74.010) and adds city-specific rules such as the pick-up requirement.
  • Washington's service-dog carve-outs differ from city to city: Seattle exempts all service animals from the pick-up and carry rules, Tacoma exempts guide and service dogs only while in harness, and Spokane exempts only licensed guide dogs.
  • Washington state parks have their own statewide rule (WAC 352-32-060): feces must be bagged and put in a trash container, and leashes may be no longer than eight feet.

Common questions

Is it illegal to not pick up dog poop in Washington?

There is no statewide law, but every one of the largest cities we checked has a pickup rule, and most smaller towns have similar ordinances. Check your own city or county code.

How much is the fine for not picking up dog poop in Washington?

It depends on the city. Seattle: $54. Tacoma: Up to $250. Spokane does not publish an amount.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Washington?

In Seattle and Spokane, yes. The ordinance requires you to have a means of removal with you while walking your dog.

Are service dog handlers exempt?

In Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma, the ordinance exempts handlers who have a disability and cannot physically pick up. The exemption covers the handler, not the dog.

Other states in the West

California · Arizona · Colorado · Oregon · Utah · Nevada · New Mexico · Idaho

See all 50 states · How scoop laws work in general

Sources

Checked 2026-09-10. Ordinances change, so if you are dealing with an actual citation, read the current code at the link rather than relying on this page.

This page is general information, not legal advice.