Barking Dogs: Chino vs Fontana
How do barking dogs rules compare between Chino, CA and Fontana, CA?
Chino and Fontana have similar restriction levels.
Chino, CA
San Bernardino County
Chino contracts with San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control for animal services (not the Inland Valley Humane Society, which serves neighboring Chino Hills). Continuous or habitual barking that exceeds the CMC § 9.40.040 decibel limits, or that constitutes a public nuisance under CMC Title 9, can be cited. San Bernardino County Code Title 3, Division 2 (Animal Control) prohibits keeping any animal whose noise disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.
View full Chino rules →Fontana, CA
San Bernardino County
Chronic barking dogs are a noise nuisance under Fontana Municipal Code Chapter 18 and are addressed by Animal Services. Owners who allow persistent barking that disturbs neighbors can be cited, and repeated violations can escalate to dangerous-animal review or administrative fines.
View full Fontana rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | Fontana |
|---|---|---|
| Animal control provider | San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control (contracted) | - |
| Applicable noise code | CMC § 9.40.040 (general noise) + County Code § 32.0301 et seq. | - |
| Nighttime barking cap | 50 dBA L50 at neighbor's property line | - |
| Complaint process | Log barking dates/times; multi-neighbor petition typically required | - |
| Not served by IVHS | Inland Valley Humane Society serves Chino Hills, not Chino | - |
| Code | - | FMC Chapter 18 nuisance |
| Animal Services | - | (909) 350-7651 |
| Licensing | - | Required for dogs over 4 months |
| First Step | - | Warning letter plus correction period |
| Repeat | - | Administrative citation possible |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chino FAQ
How do I report a barking dog in Chino?
Contact San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control (the city's contracted provider) at (909) 386-9820. Document the dates, times, and duration of barking before filing.
How long can a dog bark before it's a violation?
There is no fixed-minute trigger in CMC. Continuous or repeated barking that exceeds 50 dBA L50 at night (or 55 dBA day) at the neighbor's property line violates CMC § 9.40.040, and habitual barking is independently a public nuisance under County Code.
Does the Inland Valley Humane Society handle Chino?
No. IVHS contracts cover Chino Hills, Pomona, Diamond Bar, Claremont, and several others, but not the City of Chino. Chino uses San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control.
Fontana FAQ
How many complaints before action?
Fontana typically needs sworn statements from multiple neighbors on different properties. One call starts the process with a warning letter.
Is there a specific barking time limit?
No set minute threshold. The standard is whether the barking disturbs a reasonable person, with stricter treatment between 10 PM and 7 AM.
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