Dog owners in Cardiff could face £100 fines if they are caught without poo bags - even if their pooch hasn't done a number two.
The tough new measures would see enforcement officers and park rangers asking owners if they have the means to clean up after their dog.
And those who don't come prepared could be be hit with a fixed penalty notice - similar to a parking ticket.
Cardiff Council officials insist dog walkers are supportive of the proposals - with 86% in favour during a public consultation.
Councillor Joe Boyle, Liberal Democrat leader on the council, said: "They (council officers) are far less likely to catch a dog in the act than an owner without a bag in their pocket."
The idea is part of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which was backed by Cardiff Council's cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Enforcement of the new rules would be done by the council's environmental enforcement officers and park rangers.
The council is also in discussions with police about using PSPOs to do the same.
Cardiff council officers would be able to walk up to any dog owner in the parks or on council property and ask them if they have the means to dispose of any mess their animal might make.
If they can’t produce the means of disposal then they would be liable to a fine.
A council spokesman said: "It's im portant to note that we envisage this as being very targeted, so using complaints from residents about dog fouling and intelligence gathered by our own officers in the parks and on the streets we would look to focus our attention on trouble spots."
As well as plans to fine dogs owners without poo bags, the order would also mean dogs will have to be kept on a lead in all cemeteries managed by the council.
However, cabinet members dropped controversial plans to ban dogs from marked sports pitches.
Peter Bradbury, cabinet member for leisure and culture, told the committee the order would replace out-of-date by-laws, and the council will take an educational approach to the new rules as well as enforcement.
He said: "It will ensure we're not having issues where we can't legally take any enforcement action against someone who is guilty of dog fouling because our by-laws are out of date."
There were 6,002 responses to a consultation on the originally-proposed PSPO, and 60.5% came from dog owners.
People were split on whether dogs should be banned from marked sports pitches as seven in 10 dog owners disagreed with the proposed ban, while seven in 10 non-dog owners were supportive of the idea.
Adrian Robson, Conservative leader on the council, said the original consultation including the sports pitch ban was a "low point in this administration" and asked how the proposals would be enforced.
Cllr Bradbury insisted the proposals would not aim to drive income for the council but would encourage "behavioural change".
Council leader Huw Thomas added: "We're never afraid to listen. We strive towards achieving consensus and building partnerships."
Disabled people who need their dogs for support, such as guide dogs, would be exempt from the order.
The order could come into force by the end of the year if the full council votes to implement it.
