Kings County, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Animal noise is the one form of everyday neighborhood noise that Kings County addresses with a dedicated provision. Section 4-79 ("Noisy animals") of the County's Animal Control Ordinance states that any person who keeps or permits to remain on property under their ownership or control - other than in an appropriately zoned and licensed kennel or animal hospital - any animal that by continuous barking, whining, or other noise unreasonably disturbs the peace, comfort, or quiet of any resident of the neighborhood is guilty of an infraction. The rule was adopted as part of the current Animal Control Ordinance (Ord. No. 672, 2015) and is enforced by the Animal Control division of the Kings County Sheriff's Office. The word "continuous" and the "unreasonably disturbs" test mean a single bark or occasional noise generally will not qualify; sustained, ongoing barking that affects neighbors is the target. A related provision, Section 4-77, treats a vicious or potentially dangerous dog as a nuisance. Because Section 4-79 is expressly an infraction, the escalating infraction fines in Section 1-8.1 apply: up to $100 for a first conviction, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for a third or later within a year. These rules apply only in unincorporated Kings County.