Dearborn Heights, MI Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 6-93 targets the animal's owner or keeper rather than the animal itself: no person shall harbor or keep any animal which, by loud, frequent or habitual barking, yelping, howling, crying or squawking, causes annoyance to the neighborhood or to people passing to and fro on the streets. The section covers any animal, not just dogs, so a habitually squawking bird or a howling animal of another species can trigger the same violation. It sits in Article V, Prohibited Acts, next to § 6-92's confinement rule for a female animal in heat and § 6-94's leash and running-at-large rule, and shares Chapter 6's animal control officer, defined at § 6-2, as the enforcing official.

Because the section states no fine of its own, City Code § 1-11(e) applies Chapter 6's general Class B civil infraction schedule instead. The chapter's separate cruelty section, § 6-86, requires owners to give any animal proper food, drink, shelter and protection from the weather, which is often investigated alongside a chronic-barking complaint even though it is a distinct misdemeanor provision rather than part of § 6-93. A resident complaint about ongoing barking is typically reported to the Department of Ordinance Enforcement under § 2-901, which investigates and can issue a warning or notice of violation before a citation is filed.