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Frederick, MD Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Barking dog rules in Frederick, 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 section
City Code § 3-7
Prohibited conduct
Owning an animal that disturbs peace by noise
Fine
$100 flat, municipal infraction
Continuing violation
Each day = separate offense
Who can be liable
Any "owner" per broad § 3-5(c) definition

Summary

Frederick bans owning any animal that disturbs the peace by barking, howling, or other audible noise. Each violation is a municipal infraction with a flat $100 fine, and every day the disturbance continues counts as a separate offense.

(a)Prohibited. An individual may not own any animal which, by barking, howling or in any other audible manner, disturbs the peace, order and quiet of the City.(b)Violation. Violation of this section is a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Each day a violation continues is deemed a separate offense.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).

Full Breakdown

City Code Sec. 3-7, titled "Noisy animals," states that an individual may not own any animal which, by barking, howling, or in any other audible manner, disturbs the peace, order, and quiet of the City. The prohibition is written broadly to cover any animal, not just dogs, and any audible disturbance rather than a specific decibel threshold or time-of-day window. This provision sits in Article II of Chapter 3, "Additional Animal Control Regulations," which the City enacted separately from its adoption of Frederick County's animal control chapter, meaning it applies City-wide on its own terms rather than through the county code.

Article II also defines "owner" broadly in Sec. 3-5(c) to include any person keeping, harboring, or having charge or control of an animal on property they own, lease, or occupy, regardless of legal title to the animal itself, so a tenant harboring a noisy dog can be held responsible along with a landlord who exercises control over the premises.

Violations & Fines

Sec. 3-7(b) sets the penalty: violation of the noisy-animal section is a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of $100, and each day a violation continues is deemed a separate offense, so a continuing barking nuisance can generate a new $100 citation daily until it is corrected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a decibel limit for barking dogs in Frederick?
No. Sec. 3-7 does not set a decibel or duration threshold; it simply prohibits owning any animal that, by barking, howling, or other audible means, disturbs the peace, order, and quiet of the City. Enforcement turns on whether the noise is disturbing, not a measured sound level.
How much is the fine for a noisy dog complaint?
Sec. 3-7(b) sets a flat $100 municipal infraction fine, and it does not step up for repeat offenses within a set period the way some other Chapter 3 sections do. Instead, each day the disturbance continues counts as its own separate violation.
Does this rule apply only to dogs?
No. Sec. 3-7 applies to owning "any animal" that disturbs the peace by barking, howling, or other audible means, so it covers other pets capable of chronic noise, not dogs exclusively.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Frederick

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsQuiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSignificant RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Frederick rules

Compare Frederick to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview

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