on September 10, 2026

Washington DC Dog Poop Laws

Quick answer: Yes. Washington DC requires you to pick up after your dog anywhere in the District, under one set of District regulations rather than city by city. The set ticket for a first offense is $150.

What the District regulations say

The District of Columbia regulates dog waste District-wide. 24 DCMR 900.7 bars letting a dog defecate or urinate on public parking or any sidewalk and requires immediate removal of excrement from any curb, gutter, alley or street; 24 DCMR 900.8 bars leaving a dog's excrement on private property without the owner's or occupant's consent. Both exempt a 'seeing eye dog.' Violations carry civil sanctions under the Litter Control Administration Act of 1985 (24 DCMR 900.10). Dogs on public space must be leashed (outside designated dog parks), with a leash no longer than four feet (24 DCMR 900.3-900.4), and D.C. Code § 8-1808(a)(1) bars owners from letting an animal go at large. Verified 2026-09-10.

  • Dog excrement removal (public space and private property); seeing eye dog exemption: 24 DCMR 900.7, 900.8, 900.10 (read it)
  • Fine schedule: failure to remove animal excrement from public space: 24 DCMR 1380.3 (read it)
  • Leash required on public space; leash no longer than 4 feet: 24 DCMR 900.3, 900.4 (read it)
  • Animals may not go at large: D.C. Code § 8-1808(a)(1) (read it)

The rule and the fine

From the District regulations and the published fine schedule.

City Ordinance Fine Must carry a bag
Washington 24 DCMR 900.7 and 900.8; fines at 24 DCMR 1380.3 $150 No

The rule people miss: carrying the bag

None of the cities we checked in Washington DC spell out a separate duty to carry a bag, but the pickup duty applies the moment your dog goes, and "I did not have a bag" is not a defense in any of them.

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 DC

  • DC fines escalate inside a 60-day window: $150, $300, $600, then $2,000 for a fourth violation (24 DCMR 1380.3).
  • The exemption covers only 'seeing eye' dogs, not all service dogs (24 DCMR 900.7 and 900.8).
  • Leashes on public space may not exceed four feet (24 DCMR 900.4).
  • DC's rule also reaches private property: leaving a dog's excrement on someone else's property without consent is a separate violation (24 DCMR 900.8).

Common questions

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

Yes, anywhere in the District. The rule comes from District regulations, so it is the same in every neighborhood.

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

It depends on the city. Washington: $150.

Do I have to carry a poop bag in Washington DC?

Not as a separate rule in the cities we checked. You still have to pick up, so in practice you need one.

Are service dog handlers exempt?

In Washington, 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 South

Texas · Florida · Georgia · North Carolina · Virginia · Tennessee · Maryland · South Carolina

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.