Harford County, MD Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 64-12, Animals constituting nuisances, defines a public nuisance animal as one that damages another person's property, makes an excessive harsh noise so as to disturb the peace, quiet or comfort of the neighborhood, or is vicious or dangerous. That single section, not a decibel table, is the entire legal basis for a barking-dog complaint in unincorporated Harford County. The process runs through the courts: any person swears a complaint before the District Court of Maryland for Harford County, the court issues a summons to the animal's owner or keeper, and if the court finds the nuisance proven, it orders the owner to abate it within a time the court sets, capped at 30 days.

If the owner does not abate the noise in that window, the code requires the owner to surrender the animal to the Harford County Humane Society or another nonprofit shelter or rescue, unless the owner permanently removes the animal from the neighborhood first. Should the owner refuse to surrender a dog after that order, the Sheriff or another appropriate law enforcement authority is directed to seize it. The nuisance definition of 'animal' expressly reaches dogs, cats, reptiles and fowl, but it carves out livestock, as defined in § 267-4 of the zoning code, kept on agriculturally assessed property, so a rooster or barking farm dog on an ag-assessed parcel falls outside this section.

Article VI of Chapter 64 attaches the penalties: a criminal misdemeanor conviction under § 64-28 carries a fine of $25 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense, and § 64-29 lets the Sheriff instead issue a civil citation, a $30 penalty payable within 10 days that rises to $100 for a second offense and $150 for a third or later offense.