Barking Dogs
Noise Ordinances
Rules about excessive or continuous dog barking, including how complaints are filed, time-of-day limits, and penalties for owners.
How Barking Dogs Rules Differ by Place
Bostonia, CA: Barking Dog Noise Rules in Bostonia (San Diego County)
Heavy RestrictionsSan Diego County Code Section 36.414(c)(6), which applies in unincorporated Bostonia, makes it unlawful to keep an animal whose frequent or long-continued noise annoys or discomforts a…
Fresno, CA: Habitual Barking or Howling Prohibited (FMC 9-2701)
Heavy RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code section 9-2701(a) makes it unlawful to keep any dog which by habitual and continual barking, howling, or whining disturbs the peace and comfort of any…
Kern County, CA: Barking-dog public-nuisance ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsSection 7.08.380 of the Kern County Code makes it unlawful to keep or harbor any animal whose howling, yelping, barking, or other noise disturbs or annoys a neighborhood. Each day of…
Norfolk County, MA: Norfolk County Barking Dog Regulations
Few RestrictionsNorfolk County does not regulate barking dogs at the county level. Dog noise complaints are handled by each municipality's animal control officer and police department under local…
Bexar County, TX: Bexar County Barking Dog Enforcement
Few RestrictionsBexar County has no barking dog ordinance. Texas counties cannot enact animal noise regulations. Only state disorderly conduct law applies. Bexar County Sheriff handles complaints in…
Denton County, TX: Denton County Barking Dog Regulations
Few RestrictionsDenton County has no barking dog ordinance for unincorporated areas. The county does not enforce leash laws or domestic animal noise restrictions. Denton County Animal Services handles…
Barking Dogs Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alabama
Some RestrictionsAlabama state law treats persistent barking dogs as a private nuisance actionable under Alabama Code Section 6-5-120. Cities adopt specific decibel and duration rules, but the…
Connecticut
Some RestrictionsConnecticut General Statutes Section 22-363 prohibits owning or harboring a dog that creates a nuisance through excessive barking or other disturbance, applying uniformly statewide as…
Delaware
Some RestrictionsDelaware prohibits dogs from causing a noise disturbance under 16 Del. C. Section 3057F. Barking, howling, or whining continuously for 15 minutes, or intermittently for 30 minutes, is…
Louisiana
Few RestrictionsLouisiana has no statewide barking-dog decibel or duration standard; parishes and municipalities set their own limits. Civil Code art. 667 gives neighbors a statewide private right to…
Maine
Some RestrictionsPer 7 MRS Section 3950, Maine municipalities may adopt or retain more stringent barking-dog ordinances than state law; less restrictive local rules are invalid. State law also…
Montana
Some RestrictionsMontana treats a persistently barking dog as a nuisance. After the 2025 nuisance-law revision, a neighbor pursues it as a private nuisance under MCA 27-30-106, with a civil action and…
New Hampshire
Some RestrictionsNew Hampshire RSA 466:31 makes it a violation for any owner to keep a dog that habitually disturbs the peace by barking or howling, with enforcement available statewide regardless of…
Oregon
Few RestrictionsOregon's Right to Farm Act preempts local noise ordinances that target generally accepted agricultural practices, including livestock and farm dog noise. Cities cannot declare lawful…
Cities & Counties with Barking Dogs Rules
623 locations
Alabama
California
Massachusetts
Texas
Wisconsin
Other Noise Ordinances Topics
Quiet Hours
Nighttime and early morning noise restrictions. Most cities set specific hours when loud activities like lawn mowing, parties, and power tools are not allowed.
Construction Hours
When construction, demolition, and heavy equipment may run in residential areas. Most cities regulate this by hours and days rather than volume; violations can bring stop-work orders…
Leaf Blower Rules
Restrictions on leaf blowers, including permitted hours, decibel caps, and the growing set of cities phasing out or banning gas-powered blowers outright.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Rules for loudspeakers, live bands, DJ equipment, and outdoor music at homes, venues, and events, decibel limits, permitted hours, and when an amplified-sound permit is required.
Aircraft Noise
Local regulations related to noise from airports, flight paths, and helicopter operations near residential areas.
Decibel Limits
The decibel thresholds cities enforce, usually as a table by zone and time of day, residential, commercial, and industrial limits, how noise is measured, and what happens at the…
Vehicle Noise
Rules about loud vehicle exhaust, modified mufflers, racing engines, and stereos audible at distance. Covers what officers measure and typical fines.