Barking dog rules in Pierce 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.
In unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.72.090.A makes it a public disturbance noise for frequent, repetitive, or continuous animal sounds to unreasonably disturb neighbors' peace and repose, at any hour. Licensed shelters and kennels are exempt. Repeat-violator animals may be impounded. Cities have their own animal-noise rules.
PCC 8.72.090 lists barking dogs first among 'public disturbance noises.' Subsection A prohibits 'frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by any animal which unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort, and repose of property owners or possessors,' except animals in shelters, kennels, veterinary hospitals, or pet shops licensed under Title 5 PCC. It applies 24 hours a day with no minute threshold; officers weigh whether the barking is frequent, repetitive, or continuous and unreasonable. If the owner cannot be located, or the animal is a repeat violator, it may be impounded (redemption under PCC 6.02.070/6.02.080). Enforcement is complaint-based and Animal Control Officers under RCW 16.52.025 share authority. Cities like Tacoma have separate codes.
Barking-dog complaints go to the Sheriff's Office or Pierce County Animal Control, pursued only on a resident's complaint (PCC 8.72.120.B.1). A log of dates and times helps show the barking is frequent. Repeats can lead to impoundment and penalties.
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See how Pierce County's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
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