Walking a dog without a leash in Taipei can be fined NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 under the Taipei City animal protection ordinance (臺北市動物保護自治條例); in New Taipei, NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 under the New Taipei City animal protection ordinance (新北市動物保護自治條例). Failing to pick up dog poop is fined NT$1,200 to NT$100,000 under the Waste Disposal Act (amended on July 15, 2026; the upper limit was previously NT$6,000). The national animal protection law (動物保護法) itself only requires that a pet entering public places be accompanied by a person aged 7 or over. For aggressive dogs such as pit bulls, an adult must accompany the dog and it must be held on a leash or chain no longer than 1.5 m and wear a muzzle, or be carried in a metal crate; violations can be fined up to NT$150,000.
Note: The fines are statutory ranges; the actual amount is set case by case by the animal protection office (動物保護處) or the environmental protection department. After the Waste Disposal Act was amended and promulgated on July 15, 2026, the upper limit of the fine in Article 50 rose to NT$100,000, but the Ministry of Environment's guidelines on fine amounts for violations of the Waste Disposal Act (違反廢棄物清理法罰鍰額度裁罰準則) were still the March 18, 2021 version when checked, so actual fine amounts follow the latest practice of the Taipei and New Taipei environmental protection departments.
Penalties at a glance: what common dog-walking violations cost
| Violation | Legal basis | Fine |
|---|
| Pet enters a public place without a person aged 7 or over accompanying it | Animal protection law, Article 20, paragraph 1 and Article 31, paragraph 1, item 9 | NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 |
| Aggressive pet enters a public place with no adult accompanying it or without protective measures | Animal protection law, Article 20, paragraph 2 and Article 29, paragraph 1, item 5 | NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 |
| Taipei: taking a pet into a public place without a leash, crate or other appropriate protection | Taipei City animal protection ordinance, Article 10 and Article 28 | NT$2,000 to NT$10,000, plus an order to improve by a deadline |
| New Taipei: taking a pet into a public place without a leash, crate or the like suited to its size and type | New Taipei City animal protection ordinance, Article 7 and Article 20 | NT$3,000 to NT$15,000, may be fined for each occurrence |
| Taipei parks: bringing a non-aggressive animal into a park without appropriate protection | Taipei City park management ordinance (臺北市公園管理自治條例), Article 11, paragraph 1, item 9 and Article 15 | NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 |
| Taipei parks: bringing an aggressive animal into a park with no adult accompanying it or without protection | Taipei City park management ordinance, Article 14 | NT$20,000 to NT$100,000 |
| Dog urinates or defecates on a road or in a public place and the owner does not clean it up | Waste Disposal Act, Article 11, item 6 and Article 50 | NT$1,200 to NT$100,000 |
Animal protection law: only "accompanied by a person aged 7 or over"
Article 20, paragraph 1 of the animal protection law: "Pets entering public places or places that the public may enter shall be accompanied by a person aged 7 or over." Violations are punished under Article 31, paragraph 1, item 9 with a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000, and the offender may be ordered to improve by a deadline and fined again for each occurrence if they do not. The national laws and regulations database (全國法規資料庫) shows that the current version of the animal protection law is the amendment of May 19, 2021.
In other words, "must be on a leash" is not a national rule of the animal protection law for ordinary dogs; Taipei and New Taipei each require it through their own ordinances. In addition, Article 7 of the animal protection law requires owners to prevent their animals from harming other people's life, body, freedom or property without cause. Under Article 32, if a dog bites someone without cause, or if the owner refuses to improve after being counseled and the dog again infringes on another person's freedom or property, the competent authority may directly confiscate the animal.
Aggressive dogs: an adult, plus a leash of up to 1.5 m with a muzzle, or a crate
Article 20, paragraph 2 of the animal protection law provides that aggressive pets entering public places or places that the public may enter must be accompanied by an adult and have appropriate protective measures; which pets count as aggressive and what measures are required are announced by the central competent authority (the Ministry of Agriculture). The current rule is "aggressive pets and the protective measures to be taken when they enter public places" (具攻擊性寵物及其出入公共場所該採取之防護措施), revised and announced by the Executive Yuan's Council of Agriculture (now the Ministry of Agriculture) on March 30, 2022 and effective immediately:
- Aggressive pets: dangerous dogs, and dogs that have a record of attacking people or animals without justified reason.
- Dangerous dogs: pit bulls (美國比特鬥牛犬, 美國史大佛夏牛頭犬), 日本土佐犬, 紐波利頓犬, 阿根廷杜告犬, 巴西菲勒犬, and mastiffs (獒犬: 西藏獒犬, 鬥牛獒犬, 義大利獒犬, 波爾多獒犬).
- Protective measures (choose one): the dog is led on a rope or chain no longer than 1.5 m and wears a breathable muzzle that does not hinder heat dissipation; or it is carried in a sturdy metal crate that provides sun protection and ventilation.
The old rule before the 2022 (year 111) revision also covered crossbreeds of the breeds above and 史大佛夏牛頭犬, and required both a leash or chain and a muzzle, with no crate option. The Ministry of Agriculture website still carries the draft comparison table of that revision, in which the "current rule" column refers to the old rule from before the revision. Violators are fined NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 under Article 29, paragraph 1, item 5. According to the explanation in that comparison table, 美國比特鬥牛犬 and 美國史大佛夏牛頭犬 were already listed on October 26, 2021 as "animals designated as prohibited from being kept, imported or exported" (指定禁止飼養輸入或輸出之動物).
Taipei and New Taipei rules: both require a leash or crate
Taipei: Article 10 of the Taipei City animal protection ordinance (amended May 19, 2015) provides that pet owners who take a pet into a public place or a place that the public may enter must use a chain or leash, a crate or other appropriate protective measures; a pet without protection may be sent by the animal protection office to an animal shelter or a designated place. Violators are fined NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 under Article 28, ordered to improve by a deadline, and may be fined again for each occurrence if they do not. Taipei's parks are also covered by the Taipei City park management ordinance (amended January 12, 2024): bringing a non-aggressive animal into a park without appropriate protective measures is fined NT$2,000 to NT$10,000.
New Taipei: Article 7 of the New Taipei City animal protection ordinance (promulgated February 23, 2022) provides that owners who take a pet into a public place or a place that the public may enter must use a leash, crate or other appropriate protective measures suited to the pet's size and type, to control the pet's movements. There are two exceptions: entering a place reserved for animals (for example a pet exercise area) and following that place's rules is not restricted, and the rule does not apply to Indigenous peoples where needed for traditional culture and ritual. Violators are fined NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 under Article 20 and may be fined for each occurrence.
Living in an apartment building: Article 16, paragraph 4 of the Condominium Administration Act provides that residents who keep animals must not impair public hygiene, public peace and quiet, or public safety; where the community rules (規約) prohibit keeping animals, those rules apply. If the management committee (管委會) tells the resident to stop and they do not comply, and the case is reported to the competent authority, a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 is imposed under Article 47.
Dog poop not picked up: how the Waste Disposal Act penalizes it
Article 11, item 6 of the Waste Disposal Act provides: "Where domestic animals or poultry urinate or defecate on roads or other public places, the owner or manager shall clear it up." Failure to clear it up is punished under Article 50, item 1. Article 27 of the same law also prohibits polluting the ground, ditches, walls, utility poles, trees, roads and the like inside designated cleaning areas (指定清除地區), and violations are likewise punished under Article 50.
After Article 50 was amended and promulgated on July 15, 2026, the fine is "NT$1,200 or more and NT$100,000 or less", and the offender may be notified to improve by a deadline, with a repeated fine for each occurrence if the improvement is still not completed by the deadline; before the amendment it was NT$1,200 to NT$6,000. Taipei City's reward standard table for reporting violations of the Waste Disposal Act (檢舉違反廢棄物清理法案件檢舉獎金發給基準表) lists "not promptly cleaning up the feces of a walked dog (or other pet)" as its first reportable item, citing Article 11, item 6 and Article 50 (the fine column of that table still showed the pre-amendment NT$1,200 to NT$6,000 when checked).
How to dispose of the dog waste you pick up follows each city's general garbage rules. For the prices and where to buy the designated trash bags, see how much designated trash bags cost in Taipei and New Taipei.
How to report, and what to attach
- Dog not on a leash, or an aggressive dog without protection: report to the Taipei City animal protection office (臺北市動物保護處) or the New Taipei City animal protection and disease control office (新北市政府動物保護防疫處), or call 1999, which forwards the report (轉派). Article 25 of the Taipei City animal protection ordinance provides that the public may report by stating the facts or providing evidence to the animal protection office, and the office must keep the reporter's identity confidential.
- Dog poop not picked up: report to the environmental protection department. This article suggests attaching photos or videos that show the person, time and place, which makes it easier to investigate.
- Bitten by a dog: see a doctor first; if personal safety is involved you can call the police (110); you can also notify the animal protection agency, and the case is handled under Articles 7 and 32 of the animal protection law.
Also remember that the dog itself must be registered as a pet and implanted with a microchip as required by law; see how to register a pet for the deadlines and penalties.
Frequently asked questions
Is walking a dog without a leash illegal?
Yes, in both Taipei and New Taipei it violates local ordinances: Taipei fines NT$2,000 to NT$10,000, and New Taipei fines NT$3,000 to NT$15,000. The national animal protection law itself only requires a person aged 7 or over to accompany an ordinary dog.
How much is the fine for not picking up dog poop?
Under Article 11, item 6 and Article 50 of the Waste Disposal Act, the fine is NT$1,200 to NT$100,000 (the upper limit after the amendment of July 15, 2026), and the actual amount is set by the environmental protection department.
Can a child walk the dog alone?
The animal protection law requires a person aged 7 or over to accompany a pet entering public places; for an aggressive dog, an adult must accompany it and protective measures must be taken.
Which dogs must wear a muzzle or be put in a crate when going out?
Under the current rule revised and announced on March 30, 2022, aggressive pets are the 6 types of dangerous dogs (pit bulls [American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier], Japanese Tosa, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and mastiffs) and any dog that has a record of attacking without justified reason. When going out, an adult must accompany the dog, which is led on a rope or chain of up to 1.5 m with a breathable muzzle, or carried in a metal crate that provides sun protection and ventilation.
Can a dog be off leash in a New Taipei pet exercise area?
Yes. Article 7, paragraph 3 of the New Taipei City animal protection ordinance provides that those who enter a place reserved for animals and follow that place's rules of use are not restricted by the leash rule.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information and is for general reference only. For individual cases, contact the Taipei City animal protection office, the New Taipei City animal protection and disease control office, or the environmental protection departments of the two cities.
Sources
- National laws and regulations database: animal protection law (動物保護法; in Chinese; amended May 19, 2021, checked 2026-11-01): Articles 7, 20, 29, 31 and 32: age of the accompanying person, aggressive pets, fine ranges and confiscation.
- Executive Yuan Gazette: Council of Agriculture announcement revising "aggressive pets and the protective measures to be taken when they enter public places" (行政院公報; in Chinese; March 30, 2022, No. 1110042346, vol. 028, issue 058, effective immediately, checked 2026-11-01): definition of aggressive pets, 6 types of dangerous dogs, adult accompaniment, and a 1.5 m rope or chain with a muzzle or a metal crate, choose one.
- Ministry of Agriculture: draft comparison table for the revision of the aggressive pets and protective measures rule (修正草案對照表; in Chinese; a draft document from before the 2022 announcement, checked 2026-11-01): the pre-revision rule (including crossbreeds and a leash and muzzle used together), reasons for the revision, and an explanation of the October 26, 2021 prohibition announcement.
- Taipei City laws and regulations search system: Taipei City animal protection ordinance (臺北市動物保護自治條例; in Chinese; amended May 19, 2015, checked 2026-11-01): Article 10 chain, leash and crate; Article 25 reporting and confidentiality; Article 28 fine of NT$2,000 to NT$10,000.
- Taipei City laws and regulations search system: Taipei City park management ordinance (臺北市公園管理自治條例; in Chinese; amended January 12, 2024, checked 2026-11-01): Article 11, paragraph 1, item 9; Article 14, NT$20,000 to NT$100,000; Article 15, NT$2,000 to NT$10,000.
- New Taipei City laws and regulations search system: New Taipei City animal protection ordinance (新北市動物保護自治條例; in Chinese; promulgated February 23, 2022, checked 2026-11-01): Article 7 leash, crate and exceptions; Article 20 fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000.
- New Taipei City Government: press release on the New Taipei City animal protection ordinance taking effect (新聞稿; in Chinese; issued 2022-02-23, checked 2026-11-01): the ordinance took effect on February 25, 2022, and dogs must be walked on a leash.
- National laws and regulations database: Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法; in Chinese; amended July 15, 2026, checked 2026-11-01): Article 11, item 6; Article 27; Article 50 fine of NT$1,200 to NT$100,000.
- National laws and regulations database: earlier version of the Waste Disposal Act (舊版條文; in Chinese; version of June 14, 2017, checked 2026-11-01): the pre-amendment Article 50 fine of NT$1,200 to NT$6,000.
- National laws and regulations database: guidelines on fine amounts for violations of the Waste Disposal Act (違反廢棄物清理法罰鍰額度裁罰準則; in Chinese; amended March 18, 2021, checked 2026-11-01): when checked, the guidelines had not yet been updated for the 2026 amendment.
- Taipei City laws and regulations search system attachment: Taipei City reward standard table for reporting violations of the Waste Disposal Act (檢舉獎金發給基準表; in Chinese; checked 2026-11-01): not promptly cleaning up dog feces is listed as a reportable item, citing Article 11, item 6 and Article 50.
- National laws and regulations database: Condominium Administration Act (公寓大廈管理條例; in Chinese; amended May 11, 2022, checked 2026-11-01): Article 16, paragraph 4 on keeping animals, and the Article 47 fine.
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