Cathedral City, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 13.80.150 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code has three prongs. First, it is unlawful and a public nuisance to keep on premises in the city any animal which by any sound, cry or behavior causes annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitivity, or any animal in unsanitary conditions. Second, it prohibits keeping more animals than the code or applicable state or federal law permits. Third, it prohibits keeping any animal deemed illegal under the code or state or federal law. Barking is covered by the first prong because it is a sound that annoys.

The standard is objective. The section prints no decibel limit, no number of minutes of continuous barking and no quiet hours, so the question is whether a reasonable person of normal sensitivity would be annoyed or discomforted. The citing officer documents the conduct and the complaint.

Other Cathedral City provisions frame the rule. The noise chapter exempts animal noise and refers readers to Title 10 (§ 11.96.060). Title 10 adopts Title 6 of the Riverside County Code as the city's Animal Control Ordinance, subject to local amendments (§ 10.05.020); that county text is not reproduced in the city code. Section 10.10.050 allows dogs and cats in any zone, with no more than three of each or a combination not to exceed three on a single legal lot. Section 9.100.020 bars roosters and other fowl that constitute a nuisance by their loud cries in every zone. Section 13.80.140 separately treats premises with repeated disruptive activities, including loud noises between ten p.m. and six a.m., as a nuisance.

The process is the Title 13 nuisance route: a notice of public nuisance and order to abate stating the deadline (§ 13.90.020), appealable in writing to the city clerk within ten calendar days of completed service (§ 13.90.120).