The short answer
Every one of the 18 Canadian cities we checked requires you to pick up your dog’s waste, and each bases that on its own by-law. The fines differ widely. Where a city publishes a set fine, the figures run from $50 (Fredericton, voluntary payment) to $500 (Calgary, specified penalty), and Toronto’s city page says you can be fined $400. For Ottawa and Montréal we found no published fine figure at all, and Vancouver, Hamilton, Charlottetown and Halifax publish only general ranges, minimums or maximums that are not specific to dog waste. Disposal rules differ too: Calgary’s green cart takes bagged pet waste in a certified compostable or paper bag, while Vancouver, Hamilton and Montréal’s brown bin do not accept it. Carry bags, pick up straight away, and check your own city’s page before you act on any figure here.
Quick highlights
- All 18 cities in this guide require you to pick up after your dog.
- Published set fines run from $50 (Fredericton, voluntary payment) to $500 (Calgary, specified penalty).
- Toronto gives you 24 hours to clean up your own yard; several other cities have own-property rules too.
- Green bins differ: Calgary takes pet waste in certified compostable or paper bags; Vancouver and Hamilton do not take it.
PawTrace is not a law firm. This guide shares what we found in the sources listed below; ask your city or a lawyer about your own situation.
Key takeaways
- All 18 cities in this guide require removal of dog waste. Most say immediately: for example Toronto (s.349-18), Calgary (s.19), Edmonton (s.11(1)) and Vancouver (s.4.9).
- A fine amount that one city’s page states may not match its by-law. Winnipeg’s figure comes from a city page on its older website, and Halifax’s $237.50 is a general by-law penalty, not a waste-specific one.
- Several by-laws also cover your own yard: Toronto requires removal from your own property within 24 hours, and Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Yellowknife and Iqaluit have their own-property rules.
- Some by-laws require you to carry a way to pick up waste: Québec City (art. 8), Yellowknife (s.23), Charlottetown (s.6.4) and Iqaluit (s.15.1). Calgary’s city page says the same.
- Where a bag goes is a city decision. Compare the disposal table below before you use a green bin, brown bin or organics cart.
- This is general information, not legal advice. By-laws change, and a city’s by-law text controls over a summary.
What the by-laws say, city by city
Each row names the by-law we read, the rule in short form, and the fine only where the city publishes a figure. We looked at each source on October 23 2026. “No published fine found” means we did not find a figure on the pages and by-law texts we read, not that no penalty exists. Amounts are in Canadian dollars as the city states them, and none has been adjusted.
| City | By-law | Rule in short | Set fine published (as seen October 23 2026) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | Animal Care and Control By-law 2003-77, ss.37 to 41 | Remove waste immediately (s.37). Dispose of it on your own premises (s.38). Remove waste from your own premises in a timely manner (s.39). A service dog handler who cannot remove waste because of a physical disability is exempt from s.37 (s.40). The offence is in s.88, and s.89 sets the fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act. | No published fine found | By-law |
| Toronto | Municipal Code Chapter 349, s.349-18 | Remove immediately from property that is not yours. Remove from your own property within 24 hours. | $400 (city page, modified July 27 2026, seen October 23 2026) | City page Code |
| Montréal | By-law concerning domestic animals (number not stated on the city page) | Pick up your dog’s excrement and put it in a garbage bin (French page). | No published fine found | City page |
| Vancouver | Animal Control By-law 9150, s.4.9 | Immediately remove excrement the dog deposits and put it in a suitable refuse container (s.4.9). Exceptions apply for a service dog with a physically disabled handler and a guide dog with a blind handler. Section 4.10: s.4.9 does not apply on your own property. | No ticket amount for s.4.9 found: the Ticket Offences By-law 9360 lists only licence and off-leash amounts for animal control. Section 10.4 sets a fine on conviction of $250 to $10,000 per offence (consolidated to November 5 2025). | By-law |
| Calgary | Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw 47M2021, s.19 | Remove waste immediately from property other than your own (s.19). The city’s dog by-law page says to carry a suitable means to pick up after your dog, on and off your property. | $300 if paid within 15 days, $375 if paid in 16 to 45 days, $500 specified penalty (Schedule C). Double on a second conviction and triple on a third or later conviction within 12 months (s.80(3)). | By-law City page |
| Edmonton | Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw 13145, s.11 | Remove waste forthwith (s.11(1)). Own-property rule in s.11(2). | Section 37(2) sets $100 for an offence with no other listed amount (para. (a)) and $250 for an offence under s.10(1), 11 or 13(1) “if the dog is a Nuisance Dog” (para. (b.1)). Our reading: $100 for most dogs and $250 for a Nuisance Dog. We could not confirm this with the city. | By-law |
| Winnipeg | Responsible Pet Ownership By-law No. 92/2013, s.4(1)(f) | Remove dog excrement (s.4(1)(f), as listed on the city’s fines page). A city article says the by-law requires the owner to pick up after the dog. | $200 preset fine, $100 if paid early (city’s older website, last update February 20 2024). We did not read the by-law text. | By-law Fines page |
| Hamilton | Responsible Animal Ownership By-law No. 12-031, s.8.1 and s.8.2 | Remove immediately (s.8.1). On your own premises, remove in a timely manner (s.8.2). Owners of service animals and police animals are exempt. | No set fine found. Section 12.19 sets a maximum fine of $10,000 on a first conviction. | By-law |
| Québec City | Règlement sur les animaux domestiques, R.V.Q. 2698, arts. 8 and 9 | Carry a means of pickup when the animal is away from your own land (art. 8). Remove waste immediately, both in places open to the public and on private land, and dispose of it hygienically (art. 9). | $150 to $1,000 for an individual’s first offence, $300 to $2,000 for a repeat offence (art. 52). | By-law |
| Halifax | By-Law A-700, Respecting Animals and Responsible Pet Ownership | The city page says to remove defecation immediately from public and private property that is not your own (unless you have a service dog). | No waste-specific fine found. A Summary Offence Ticket of $237.50 or greater is the city’s general by-law penalty. | City page |
| Regina | Regina Animal Bylaw No. 2009-44, s.27 | Remove immediately (s.27(1)). Own-property rules in s.27(2) and s.27(3). | $100 first offence, $200 second, $300 third. Fourth and later are set by the court (Schedule C). | By-law |
| Saskatoon | Bylaw No. 7860, The Animal Control Bylaw, 1999, s.13 and s.14 | Remove waste (s.13), with an exemption for guide dogs (s.13(2)). Section 14 covers accumulation on private property. | $100 first contravention, $200 second, $300 subsequent (Schedule 8). | By-law |
| St. John’s | By-Law 1514, Animal Control Regulation, s.5(1) | The owner shall cause the faeces to be removed immediately. | $100 where a ticket is issued (s.9(a)). Section 9(b) refers to a penalty under s.403 of the City of St. John’s Act. | By-law |
| Fredericton | By-law S-11, A By-law Respecting Animal Control, s.2.09 | Remove immediately, with an exemption for an assistance dog (s.2.09(1)). Put the waste in a suitable refuse container (s.2.09(2)). | $50 voluntary payment (s.7.02) or $75 (s.7.03). On conviction, not less than $100 (s.7.04). | City page By-law |
| Charlottetown | Dog Control Bylaw (effective June 21 1995, amended to January 10 2011), s.6.3 and s.6.4 | Remove immediately, except for a dog trained to assist a person with a disability (s.6.3). Carry cleanup supplies (s.6.4). | No set waste fine found. Section 8.1 sets $100 to $500 for a first offence and $200 to $1,000 for a later one. We could not confirm this is the current by-law. | By-law |
| Whitehorse | Animal Control Bylaw 2001-01 (consolidated to Bylaw 2012-29), s.58 | Remove waste. The city page says to bag it and place it in a garbage bin. | $100 voluntary fine for s.58 (Schedule A of the office consolidation to Bylaw 2012-29). The city page states no fine. | By-law |
| Yellowknife | Dog By-law No. 4755 (consolidation with amendments to May 14 2018), s.23 and s.24 | Carry a means of pickup (s.23). Remove waste immediately (s.24). Do not let waste build up on your own property (s.25). | $100 for s.24 and $100 for s.23 (Schedule A). | City page By-law |
| Iqaluit | Domestic Animal Control Bylaw 924, s.15.1 and s.15.2 | Remove waste immediately and carry a means of pickup (s.15.1). Own-property rule in s.15.2. | “$200.00 fine” per the city’s public service announcement of March 14 2022. We did not read the by-law text. | City notice |
What happens to the bag
Picking up is one step. Where the bag goes is the second, and it varies. The table gives each city’s statement, and where we found nothing we say so.
| City | What the city says on the bag | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | By-law s.38 says to dispose of waste you pick up on your own premises. Whether the green bin accepts dog waste is not confirmed: the city green bin pages we could load did not say. | City |
| Toronto | Bag it and place it in a Green Bin or in the garbage. | City |
| Montréal | Garbage bin (French page). The brown bin does not accept pet droppings (page updated April 2 2026). | City |
| Vancouver | The green bin does not accept “Pet waste and pet waste bags”. The by-law says to deposit waste in a suitable refuse container. | City |
| Calgary | The green cart takes bagged pet waste in a certified compostable or paper bag. Biodegradable bags are not accepted. | City |
| Edmonton | Unbagged dog waste goes in the food scraps cart, and bagged dog waste goes in the garbage (food scraps page). The waste guidelines say cat feces and litter must be bagged and put in the garbage. | City Guidelines |
| Winnipeg | A city article says used bags should be placed in the garbage. | City |
| Hamilton | The city says: “Do not put diapers, pet waste (including cat litter) or sanitary products in your green bin.” | City |
| Québec City | The by-law says to dispose of the waste hygienically (art. 9). No bin guidance found. | By-law |
| Halifax | The city’s garbage collection page lists “Pet waste”, with “Dog poop bags”, under garbage. | City |
| Regina | The by-law says to remove waste from the property where the animal is kept and dispose of it in a sanitary manner (s.27(3)). No bin guidance found. | By-law |
| Saskatoon | No disposal guidance found. | Summary sheet |
| St. John’s | No disposal guidance found. | By-law |
| Fredericton | The by-law says to deposit waste in a suitable refuse container (s.2.09(2)). | By-law |
| Charlottetown | No disposal guidance found. | By-law |
| Whitehorse | “Bag it, and place in a garbage bin.” | City |
| Yellowknife | No disposal guidance found. | City |
| Iqaluit | The city notice quotes s.15.2: dispose of the feces in an acceptable container. | City notice |
The green bin and garbage rules in this table are from city web pages, and cities update them. If your city is not on this list, search its site for “pet waste” before you use any bin.
Rules beyond the sidewalk
Your own yard
Some by-laws reach private property. Toronto requires removal from your own property within 24 hours (s.349-18). Hamilton requires removal on your own premises in a timely manner (s.8.2). Ottawa (s.39), Edmonton (s.11(2)), Regina (s.27(2) and s.27(3)), Saskatoon (s.14), Yellowknife (s.25) and Iqaluit (s.15.2) also have own-property rules, and Ottawa’s s.38 requires you to dispose of waste you pick up on your own premises. Québec City’s art. 9 applies both in places open to the public and on private land, and does not exclude your own. Read the section for your city before you assume a backyard is outside the rule.
Carry a way to pick up
Québec City (art. 8), Yellowknife (s.23), Charlottetown (s.6.4) and Iqaluit (s.15.1) require you to carry a means of cleanup, and Calgary’s city page says to carry one. Yellowknife sets $100 for this offence in Schedule A. Keep a spare bag in your coat pocket and on the leash handle.
Service dog and guide dog exemptions
Some by-laws exempt certain dogs from the removal rule. Vancouver (s.4.9) exempts certain service and guide dogs. Hamilton (s.8.1) exempts owners of service animals and police animals. Saskatoon (s.13(2)) exempts guide dogs, Fredericton (s.2.09(1)) exempts an assistance dog, and Charlottetown (s.6.3) exempts a dog trained to assist a person with a disability. Ottawa (s.40) exempts a service dog handler who cannot remove waste because of a physical disability. Halifax’s page excludes a service dog. The wording differs, so read your city’s text before you rely on an exemption. Our guide to service dog rules in Canada covers the wider rules.
Why the numbers differ
Cities set these amounts in different places. Calgary lists a specified penalty and two early-payment amounts in a schedule to its by-law. Regina and Saskatoon escalate with each offence. Québec City and Charlottetown set ranges. Vancouver and Hamilton publish only a fine range or maximum on conviction, which is not the same as a ticket amount. Toronto’s amount comes from the city’s web page.
That is why this guide tells you where each figure comes from. A page can be updated without the by-law changing, and a by-law can be amended without the page changing. If you receive a ticket, the ticket and the by-law text control.
Myth vs fact
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Picking up only matters in parks. | Every by-law in this guide covers public property, and Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Yellowknife and Iqaluit also have own-property rules. |
| If the bag is biodegradable it can go in the green bin. | Calgary’s green cart does not accept biodegradable bags, only certified compostable or paper bags. Vancouver and Hamilton do not accept pet waste in the green bin at all. |
| The fine is the same in every city. | Set fines in this guide run from $50 (Fredericton, voluntary payment) to $500 (Calgary), and several cities publish no set fine. |
| The city web page and the by-law always say the same thing. | Halifax’s $237.50 is a general by-law ticket, not a waste-specific one, and Winnipeg’s $200 comes from a page on the city’s older website. Check the by-law text. |
| A service dog owner never has to pick up. | The exemptions we found are specific, such as Vancouver s.4.9, Hamilton s.8.1 and Saskatoon s.13(2). Read your city’s wording. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pick up in my own backyard?
It depends on the city. Toronto requires removal from your own property within 24 hours, and Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Yellowknife and Iqaluit have own-property sections in their by-laws. Québec City’s rule also applies on private land. Check the section for your city in the table above.
Can I put dog waste in the green bin?
Check your city. Toronto says to bag it and put it in a Green Bin or garbage. Calgary accepts bagged pet waste in a certified compostable or paper bag. Vancouver, Hamilton and Montréal do not accept it in the organics bin. We could not confirm Ottawa’s rule.
What is the fine in Ottawa?
We found no published fine in By-law 2003-77 or on the city pages we read. The by-law’s offence section is s.88 and the fine is set under the Provincial Offences Act (s.89). Ask the city if you need the current amount.
Do I need to carry bags?
Québec City, Yellowknife, Charlottetown and Iqaluit require it in their by-laws, and Calgary’s city page says to carry a means of pickup. Carrying bags everywhere keeps you inside the rule.
Does my licence cover this?
No. A licence and a pickup rule are separate by-law requirements. See our guide to dog licences in Canada’s big cities for the licence side.
What if I am in a city that is not listed?
Search the city’s website for its animal control or responsible pet ownership by-law, and read the section on waste. Then check the waste and green bin page for the bag.
Keep reading
- Dog licences in Canada’s big cities
- Winter with a dog: paws, salt, cold and dark walks
- Microchipping in Canada: registries and why updating matters
- Exercise needs by breed group
- Dog walkers and daycare: safety checks before you book
Need help with your dog? Find dog services near you.
Sources
All links were checked on October 23 2026.
- City of Ottawa: Animal Care and Control By-law 2003-77
- City of Toronto: Responsible dog ownership (modified July 27 2026)
- City of Toronto: Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals (version September 1 2026)
- Ville de Montréal: Obligations and responsibilities of pet owners (updated April 17 2024)
- Ville de Montréal: Propriétaires d’animaux domestiques, vos responsabilités
- Ville de Montréal: What belongs in the brown bin (updated April 2 2026)
- City of Vancouver: Animal Control By-law 9150 (consolidated to November 5 2025)
- City of Vancouver: Ticket Offences By-law 9360 (consolidated to June 25 2024)
- City of Vancouver: Green bin, food scraps and yard waste
- City of Calgary: Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw 47M2021
- City of Calgary: Pet waste and kitty litter
- City of Calgary: Bylaws related to dogs
- City of Edmonton: Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw 13145 (consolidated May 12 2025)
- City of Edmonton: Food scraps
- City of Edmonton: Waste bylaw guidelines
- City of Winnipeg: Responsible Pet Ownership By-law No. 92/2013
- City of Winnipeg: Animal fines (older website, last update February 20 2024)
- City of Winnipeg: Pet Peeves, not cleaning up after your dog
- City of Hamilton: Responsible Animal Ownership By-law No. 12-031 (office consolidation June 16 2022)
- City of Hamilton: Responsible Animal Ownership By-law
- City of Hamilton: Composting with your green bin
- Ville de Québec: Règlement sur les animaux domestiques, R.V.Q. 2698 (à jour au 10 octobre 2026)
- Halifax Regional Municipality: Dogs
- Halifax Regional Municipality: Garbage collection
- City of Regina: Regina Animal Bylaw No. 2009-44
- City of Saskatoon: Bylaw No. 7860, The Animal Control Bylaw, 1999
- City of Saskatoon: Responsible Pet Ownership summary
- City of St. John’s: By-Law 1514, Animal Control Regulation
- City of Fredericton: By-law respecting animal control
- City of Fredericton: By-law S-11 (May 2026 version)
- City of Charlottetown: Dog Control Bylaw
- City of Whitehorse: Animal Control Bylaw 2001-01
- City of Whitehorse: Animals
- City of Yellowknife: Dog By-law No. 4755
- City of Yellowknife: Dog By-law No. 4755 consolidation
- City of Iqaluit: Domestic Animal Control Bylaw 924
- City of Iqaluit: Public service announcement, March 14 2022
General information only. This guide is not legal advice. By-laws change, so check your city’s current by-law before you rely on any figure here. Written by the PawTrace Team.
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