Corvallis, OR Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Corvallis handles nuisance barking and other chronic animal noise as an animal-control violation rather than under the general noise chapter. Section 5.03.050.020.05, part of the Owner's Duties article of Chapter 5.03.050, provides that no person shall keep within the City limits any animal which causes frequent or long continued, loud noise which disturbs the comfort, repose, health or peace of others. The rule is not limited to dogs; it covers any animal, though barking dogs are the most common complaint. It does not set a decibel threshold the way the general amplified-sound rules in Section 5.03.030.020.10 do; instead the standard is frequency and duration, whether the noise is 'frequent or long continued' and disturbs a neighbor's comfort or peace.

A violation is a separate Class A Infraction for each day it continues, so an owner who lets a dog bark for a week can face a week's worth of infractions rather than a single citation. Section 5.03.050.020.05(2) gives the Animal Control Officer, part of the Corvallis Police Department, authority to take up and impound the animal under the impoundment procedures of Section 5.03.050.070 if the officer cannot locate the owner or the owner is unable or unwilling to stop the violation. Under Section 5.03.050.070.03(3)(a), an animal impounded for a noise violation can only be released by order of the Municipal Court, after the owner requests a hearing and pays a $25.00 hearing fee under Section 5.03.050.070.04. The rule traces to the original 1982 ordinance, Ord. 82-77 Section 104.02.