Barking dog rules in Bakersfield, CA — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Bakersfield Municipal Code 6.04.230 prohibits keeping any animal, bird, or fowl that by sound or cry unreasonably disturbs the peace or interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property in the neighborhood. Complaints are received and investigated by the Chief of Police; in practice, animal control is handled by Kern County Animal Services for the City of Bakersfield.
Under BMC 6.04.230, persistent barking, howling, or other animal noise that disturbs neighbors is a violation. The provision is enforced jointly: the BMC assigns intake to the Chief of Police, while operational animal-control response is handled by Kern County Animal Services through the city's animal-services contract. Complaints can be filed through the Kern County Animal Services online barking-dog complaint form. Bakersfield's general noise rules in Chapter 9.22 (the city's noise ordinance) also reach animal noise that exceeds reasonableness or disturbs residents within 1,000 feet of the source under BMC 9.22.030.
Violation of BMC 6.04.230 is a misdemeanor or infraction under BMC 1.40 general penalty provisions, with fines that escalate by offense. Persistent unresolved barking complaints can lead to citations, an administrative hearing, and ultimately a court-ordered abatement of the nuisance. Kern County Animal Services typically begins with a written warning and educational contact before escalating to a citation.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Kern County.
See how other cities in Kern County handle barking dogs.
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