Lane County, OR Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

The operative rule, LC 7.005.115 (Continuous Annoyance), applies to any animal, not just dogs: the code's definition of 'Continuous Annoyance' at LC 7.005.005 covers 'repeated barking, whining, screeching, howling, braying or other like sounds' that continue for more than 15 minutes and can be heard beyond the property line. There is no separate decibel test; the 15-minute duration and audibility off the property are what trigger the violation. Notably, the code's normal exemption for veterinarians and commercial kennel operators temporarily boarding someone else's animal does not apply here: LC 7.005.005 specifically carves out LC 7.005.105, 7.005.110 and 7.005.115 from that exemption, so a boarding kennel can still be cited for a continuously barking dog in its care.

Enforcement runs through LC 7.005.025 (Violation, Nuisance): any peace officer or Lane County animal welfare officer who has reasonable grounds to believe the Animal Services Code has been violated may issue an Oregon Uniform Citation and Complaint, and the complaint must be filed within six months of the alleged violation. The statute also declares any such violation a public nuisance, giving the county a basis to pursue abatement in addition to the citation itself. A citation for continuous annoyance is a Class C violation, the lowest of the three violation classes used throughout the Animal Services Code.

Because this is a county code provision, it governs the unincorporated area that Lane County Animal Services patrols directly; Eugene, Springfield and the county's other incorporated cities enforce their own noise or animal ordinances within city limits.