Duluth, MN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Duluth, MN, 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
- Governing section
- Duluth Legislative Code § 6-33(a)
- Standard
- Loud, frequent or habitual barking/yelping/howling
- Trigger
- Causes reasonable annoyance to another person
- Also covered
- Fowl crowing/clucking (§6-33(c))
- Also covered
- Other animal vocalizations (§6-33(d))
- General penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine per Section 1-7
Summary
Duluth Legislative Code Section 6-33(a) makes it unlawful to harbor or keep a dog whose loud and frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling causes reasonable annoyance to another person. The same section separately bars nuisance crowing or clucking from fowl and habitual vocalizations from any other animal that annoy neighbors.
No person shall harbor or keep any dog which, by loud and frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling shall cause reasonable annoyance of another person or persons;
Full Breakdown
Section 6-33 sits in Article IV, Keeping of Animals, and treats animal noise as a standalone offense apart from the general nuisance rule in Section 6-32. Subsection (a) targets dog owners directly: no person may harbor or keep a dog whose loud and frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling causes reasonable annoyance to another person or persons, with no requirement that the noise occur at any particular time of day. Subsection (c) applies the identical loud-and-habitual, reasonable-annoyance standard to fowl that crow or cluck, and subsection (d) extends it further to any other animal or fowl whose habitual vocalizations are a reasonable annoyance.
Section 6-33(b) additionally reaches noise from any animal that is plainly audible at the property line to a person, including an animal control officer or police officer standing there. Enforcement runs through Duluth's animal control authority and police department, who respond to a complaining neighbor's report and assess whether the barking meets the loud, frequent or habitual threshold before citing the owner.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 6 does not set a standalone fine for Section 6-33. Because no specific penalty is listed, a violation falls under the citywide general penalty in Duluth Legislative Code Section 1-7: a fine of up to $1,000, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to let my dog bark constantly in Duluth?
Does the noise rule only cover dogs?
What's the penalty for a barking dog complaint in Duluth?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Duluth
Compare Duluth to another location·View the Minnesota noise ordinances overview
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