San Diego County, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 36.414(c)(6) of the County's Noise Abatement and Control ordinance prohibits owning, possessing, or harboring an animal that by any 'frequent or long continued noise' causes annoyance or discomfort to a person of normal sensitivity in the vicinity. Importantly, a written affirmation by two persons who live in separate residences - stating that the animal has caused frequent or long-continued noise that annoyed or discomforted them - is prima facie evidence of a violation. This two-witness affirmation is the County's key enforcement tool for barking dogs. The rule does not apply to animal noise emanating from a legally operated animal hospital, humane society, County Department of Animal Services facility, farm, or other agricultural facility where keeping animals is allowed. There is no fixed minute threshold and no time-of-day carve-out; the prohibition operates 24 hours a day, with the Section 36.414(b) factors (level, duration, time of day, recurrence, proximity to sleeping areas) weighed in determining a violation. Under Section 36.418, the Sheriff has primary responsibility for enforcing Section 36.414. Animal-noise complaints in the unincorporated county are commonly routed through County Animal Services, which can pursue a barking-dog case using the two-witness affirmation process.