Anne Arundel County, MD Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Anne Arundel County, MD, 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 law
- County Code § 12-4-903 & § 12-4-101(36)
- Enforcing agency
- Anne Arundel County Animal Services
- Default penalty
- $50 first offense, up to $500 repeat
- Applies to
- All unincorporated county, incl. Glen Burnie
- Does not apply in
- Annapolis and Highland Beach
Summary
Anne Arundel County bans letting a dog bark, howl, or whine repeatedly enough to disturb neighbors, treating it as a public nuisance enforced by Animal Services with citations and possible court action.
“Public nuisance” means an act by an animal that substantially interferes with the rights of citizens to enjoyment of life or property and that unreasonably annoys humans, endangers the life or health of other animals or human beings, or offends human senses, including the molesting of pedestrians, the chasing of vehicles, the damaging of property of someone other than the owner of the animal, and continually and repeatedly howling, barking, whining, or otherwise making noise that causes unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where a person keeps an animal.
(37) “Public nuisance condition” means an unsanitary, dangerous, or offensive condition caused by the extreme size or number of animals kept on any premises or by the inadequacy of facilities or a continuing or periodically recurring public nuisance.
(38) “Quarantine” means confinement in a secure house, garage, or other escape- proof enclosure or structure.
(39) “Sanitary” means being in a condition of good order and cleanliness that precludes the probability of transmission of disease.
(40) “Severe injury” means any physical injury requiring professional medical treatment that is directly caused by an animal, and that results in multiple skin punctures, one or more muscle tears, dislocated or broken bones or disfiguring lacerations, significant impairment of an essential bodily
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 12-4-903 makes it unlawful for an owner to let an animal be a public nuisance, and § 12-4-101(36) defines public nuisance to include continually and repeatedly howling, barking, or whining that causes unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors. A separate provision, § 12-4-904, bars letting an animal disturb the quiet of a person or the neighborhood. This applies countywide, including unincorporated Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, and Odenton, where the county code is the only local law; it does not apply inside Annapolis or Highland Beach, which enforce their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 12-4-903 or § 12-4-904 is a civil offense under § 12-4-1001, enforced by Animal Services; absent another class it defaults to a Class E fine of $50, $100, then $500 for repeat violations, each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal for my dog to bark a lot in Anne Arundel County?
How much is the fine for a barking dog complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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