Compton, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Compton, 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.
Key Facts
- Numeric threshold
- none; reasonable-person standard used
- Overlapping sections
- Sec. 7-12.10 and Sec. 7-12.26
- Zone limitation
- 7-12.10 applies in residential zones
- Covers
- any animal, bird or fowl kept
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 months
Summary
Compton bars keeping any animal, bird or fowl whose noise disturbs neighbors, through two overlapping Municipal Code sections: 7-12.10 for residential-zone keeping and 7-12.26 for any animal anywhere whose frequent, long-continued noise breaks a neighbor's peace.
§ 7-12.10. Animals and Fowl. No person shall keep or maintain, or permit the keeping of, upon any premises owned, occupied or controlled by such person any animal or fowl otherwise permitted to be kept which, by any sound, cry or behavior, shall cause annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness in any residential neighborhood. ... § 7-12.26. Animals, Birds or Fowls. No person shall keep any animal, bird or fowl which, by making or causing frequent or long-continued noises, shall disturb the comfort, peace or repose of any person in the vicinity of such place where such animal, bird or fowl is kept.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4952997; v15 updated 2026-07-14; through 07-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-12.10 makes it unlawful to keep or permit the keeping of any animal or fowl on premises within a residential zone if its sound, cry or behavior causes annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness. Section 7-12.26, in the chapter's later 'special noise sources' part, separately bans keeping any animal, bird or fowl, without the residential-zone limitation, whose frequent or long-continued noises disturb the comfort, peace or repose of anyone nearby. Neither section sets a decibel level or a minimum number of minutes of barking; both rely on the same reasonable-person standard used elsewhere in the noise chapter, and violations are judged case by case from complaints rather than a fixed instrument reading. Because the two sections overlap almost entirely, Compton officers and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Compton Station, which polices the City under contract, can cite either provision depending on the circumstances of the complaint.
Violations & Fines
A sustained violation of either animal-noise section is a misdemeanor under the chapter's general enforcement provision, Section 7-12.5, punishable under Chapter 1, Section 1-6.2 by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. Each day the noise continues after a warning may be charged as a separate offense, and the City may seek a civil injunction to abate it as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a set number of barks or minutes that makes a dog a nuisance in Compton?
Which ordinance actually covers a barking-dog complaint?
What happens if a neighbor reports my dog for barking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
California rules heatmap·Compare Compton to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle barking dogs.