Barking dog rules in Detroit, MI — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Barking dogs are regulated under Chapter 6 (Animal Care, Control, and Regulation), not Chapter 36. Detroit Code §6-1-5(a)(3) declares any animal that disturbs persons in the vicinity by loud, frequent, habitual, or repeated barking, howling, or yelping a public nuisance subject to abatement.
Section 6-1-5(a)(3) applies a frequency-and-disturbance test: barking, howling, or yelping must be loud, frequent, habitual, or repeated, and must unreasonably disturb persons nearby. Under §6-1-5(b), once an animal is declared a public nuisance, the owner must immediately take reasonable measures to abate upon oral or written notice by an enforcement officer. Complaints are handled by Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC) under the General Services Department. DACC typically documents the disturbance, issues notice, and escalates to citation if the barking continues. Chapter 36 §36-1-1 also reaches animal noise generally, but Chapter 6 is the primary enforcement track.
Under §6-1-12(c), a Chapter 6 violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 and 90 days in jail. Each day the violation continues is a separate citation under §6-1-12(b).
Detroit, MI
Detroit's zoning and property maintenance codes do not restrict the number, size, or style of residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays. Re...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no specific ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays (giant snowmen, pumpkins, Santas). Restrictions, if any, come from priva...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no citywide ordinance restricting the time of year, brightness, or duration of residential holiday lights. Restrictions arise mainly from Local H...
Detroit, MI
A built-in outdoor kitchen in Detroit requires separate trade permits from BSEED for any gas line, electrical, or plumbing work, plus a building permit if it...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no ordinance specifically regulating residential offset smokers or pellet grills. The City's nuisance and air-quality provisions (Detroit Code Ch...
Detroit, MI
Detroit follows the International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted by Michigan. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame and charcoal cooking on combustible balcon...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wayne County.
See how other cities in Wayne County handle barking dogs.
See how Detroit's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.