Chelan County, WA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Chelan County, WA, 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
- Governing section
- § 7.40.020(8), Chelan County Code
- Standard
- Habitual howling, yelping or barking disturbing neighbors
- First-offense penalty
- Civil infraction, up to $130
- Second-offense penalty
- Civil infraction, up to $250, within 5 years
- Third-offense penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 or 90 days
- Complaint route
- Sworn complaint to district court, § 7.40.030(d)
Summary
In unincorporated Chelan County, a dog that habitually howls, yelps or barks and annoys or disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood is declared a public nuisance under § 7.40.020(8). Penalties escalate with repeat offenses under § 7.40.090(c), from a civil infraction to a misdemeanor on a third violation within five years.
(8) Any dog which by habitual howling, yelping or barking, annoys or disturbs persons in the neighborhood or the peace and quiet thereof; ... Unless otherwise designated, a first violation of this chapter is a civil infraction with a penalty not to exceed one hundred thirty dollars, exclusive of any statutory PSEA assessments. Unless otherwise designated, a second violation of this chapter within five years is a civil infraction with a penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars, exclusive of any statutory PSEA assessments. A third violation of this chapter within a five-year period ... shall be designated a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a maximum term fixed by the court of not more than ninety days, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
Full Breakdown
020(8) of the Chelan County Code places habitual dog noise squarely inside the county's animal-nuisance scheme: any dog which by habitual howling, yelping or barking annoys or disturbs persons in the neighborhood, or the peace and quiet thereof, is declared a public nuisance. 35's decibel-neutral disturbance standard. 030(d), prompting the court to issue a warrant for impoundment. 090(c) sets the penalty scale that applies to a barking-dog nuisance the same as any other nuisance in the chapter: a first violation is a civil infraction with a penalty not to exceed $130, a second violation within five years is a civil infraction not to exceed $250, and a third violation within a five-year period is a misdemeanor punishable by up to ninety days in the county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. 090(d).
Violations & Fines
A dog that habitually howls, yelps or barks and disturbs neighborhood peace and quiet violates § 7.40.020(8)'s nuisance declaration. Under § 7.40.090(c), the owner faces a civil infraction of up to $130 for a first offense, up to $250 for a second offense within five years, and a misdemeanor of up to $1,000 or ninety days in jail for a third offense within that period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report a neighbor's barking dog in unincorporated Chelan County?
What is the fine for a barking dog complaint that keeps happening?
Is barking handled under the county's noise ordinance or the animal code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelan County
Compare Chelan County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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