Bloomington, IN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Bloomington, IN, 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
- Nuisance definition
- Barking, whining or howling excessively or continuously
- Duty
- Owner must exercise due care to prevent nuisance
- First-offense fine
- $50.00 civil penalty
- Repeat offense
- Fine doubles each time within 12 months
- Enforcing agency
- Bloomington Animal Care and Control Department
Summary
In the City of Bloomington, a dog or other animal that barks, whines or howls excessively or continuously is legally a public nuisance, and its owner, guardian or colony caretaker must exercise due care to stop it. Bloomington Animal Care and Control enforces the rule and can fine the responsible party fifty dollars for a first offense.
"Public nuisance" means any animal that: (1)Molest passersby or passing vehicles;(2)Attack persons or other animals;(3)Damage public property or private property;(4)Bark, whine or howl in an excessive or continuous fashion;(5)Defecate on public or private property, other than the owner/guardian's/harborer's/colony caretaker's property, unless the waste is immediately removed and disposed of in a sanitary manner by the animal's owner/guardian/harborer/colony caretaker; or(6)Otherwise interferes with the free use and comfortable enjoyment of life or property. ... No owner/guardian/colony caretaker shall fail to exercise due care and control of his or her animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance.
Full Breakdown
010 defines 'public nuisance' to include any animal that barks, whines or howls in an excessive or continuous fashion, along with molesting passersby, attacking people or other animals, damaging property, or fouling property that isn't cleaned up. 010 then makes the underlying duty explicit: no owner, guardian or colony caretaker may fail to exercise due care and control of an animal to prevent it from becoming a public nuisance. 030(c). 26. 020(c).
Violations & Fines
Allowing an animal to be a public nuisance, including excessive barking, carries a fifty-dollar civil penalty for a first offense under Bloomington Municipal Code § 7.56.030(b); a second or subsequent offense within twelve months doubles the fine tied to the most recent violation. Each day the nuisance continues after the City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control Department gives notice counts as a separate violation, and the city legal department can also seek injunctive relief under Section 7.56.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a barking dog against the law in Bloomington?
Who do I call about a neighbor's barking dog in Bloomington?
Does the nuisance rule cover cats too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
Compare Bloomington to another location·View the Indiana noise ordinances overview
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