Dog owners in Mijas warned: leaving pet mess could cost €1,500

Dog mess is a problem that regularly crops up for people living in Mijas, thankfully soon a forgotten poo bag could prove to be a very expensive mistake in the area. Dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets face fines starting at €750, rising to €1,500 near children’s playgrounds, under tougher new street-cleaning and waste rules approved by the town hall.

What Mijas has approved

Mijas Council gave final approval to its new street-cleaning and waste-collection bylaws on October 28 2026. It brings existing local rules into one document and strengthens penalties for fly-tipping, dumped furniture, incorrect bin use and other behaviour that dirties public spaces.

Fines for minor offences start at €400. Very serious cases can cost up to €3,000, with higher penalties possible under wider Spanish state law.

Dog mess: what owners must do

Failing to pick up dog waste is now a serious offence. The minimum fine is €750, rising to €1,500 in especially sensitive areas such as children’s playgrounds.

For British residents and visitors walking dogs in Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas or La Cala, the advice is very clear, carry bags, clean up straight away and use a public bin. Owners should also continue to dilute dog urine with water on pavements, a separate Mijas rule introduced in 2022.

Cleaning councillor Eloy Belmonte said the council does not want more fines or extra income. He said the aim is for residents to notice cleaner streets, and for fewer people to leave others to deal with their mess.

New duties for businesses and events

Bars, restaurants and shops must sort their waste correctly and keep the areas outside their premises tidy. Event organisers and construction firms also face clearer responsibilities, while the new rules cover bin collection times, bulky-waste collection and use of local recycling points.

“Puntos limpios” are council-run clean points where residents can take items such as garden waste, furniture and other materials that do not belong in household bins.

When enforcement begins

Penalties will not apply immediately. The new laws comes into force once the remaining legal steps are completed and the full text appears in the Boletin Oficial de la Provincia de Malaga, Malaga province’s official gazette. Household rubbish charges will not change under the new rules.

Hopefully taking a stroll through Mijas should soon mean less chance of stepping in something unpleasant.