Adams County, CO Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Adams County, CO, also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances, define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 20 consecutive minutes, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Nighttime limit
- 10 consecutive minutes, 9:01 p.m.-6:59 a.m.
- Cumulative limit
- 120 minutes in any 24 hours
- Warning required first
- Written warning before any summons
- Witness rule
- 2 witnesses from separate households, exceptions apply
- Max penalty
- $300 fine, 10 days jail, or both
- Effective date
- March 1, 2022 (Res. 2022-043)
Summary
Unincorporated Adams County makes it a petty offense for a dog to bark, howl, yelp, or whine loud enough to be heard off the owner's premises for more than 20 consecutive minutes between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., more than 10 consecutive minutes between 9:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., or more than 120 cumulative minutes in any 24-hour period, under Animal Control Code Section 5-10.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or keeps a dog petty offense if such dog individually makes, or in combination with another dog or dogs together make, any noises or disturbances by barking, howling, yelping, whining or other utterance that is audible beyond the premises on which the dog is kept, for a consecutive period in excess of twenty (20) minutes during the day (7 A.M. to 9 P.M.) or for a consecutive period in excess of ten (10) minutes during the night (9:01 P.M. to 6:59 A.M.), and/or a cumulative period in excess of one-hundred twenty (120) minutes during any twenty-four (24) hour period.
Full Breakdown
m. A violation occurs when a dog, alone or together with other dogs on the same premises, makes noise audible beyond the property line for more than 20 consecutive minutes by day, more than 10 consecutive minutes by night, or more than 120 cumulative minutes in any rolling 24-hour period. Article I separately defines a 'barking dog' as one that disturbs the peace of any person by loud, habitual, and persistent barking, howling, yelping, whining, or other utterance, whether the dog is on or off its owner's premises.
Before Adams County Animal Management or a deputy sheriff can issue a citation, Section 5-10(b) requires that a written warning, signed by an Animal Management Officer and at least one complainant, first be delivered to the dog's owner or keeper, stating the date, time, and nature of the complaint; a summons can then follow only for noise occurring at least seven days after that warning. Section 5-10(c) further requires two complaining witnesses from separate households to sign the complaint, unless an Animal Management Officer or deputy sheriff personally investigated and observed the noise, or the complainant supplies other credible, admissible corroborating evidence.
A conviction is a petty offense under Section 6-1, carrying a fine of up to $300, up to 10 days in the county jail, or both, and a contested summons is heard at the Adams County Court of the 17th Judicial District under Section 6-8.
Violations & Fines
A written warning documenting the date, time, and nature of the noise must precede any citation; only after seven days of continued violations can Animal Management or a deputy sheriff issue a summons under Section 5-10(b). Fines reach up to $300 per offense, with up to 10 days in jail, under Section 6-1's petty-offense penalty, and a duplicate summons goes to the County Court Clerk of the 17th Judicial District.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a dog bark before it violates Adams County's noise rule?
Can Animal Management cite me the first time someone complains?
Does one neighbor's complaint get my dog cited?
What is the penalty for a barking dog violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Adams County
Compare Adams County to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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