Killeen, TX Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Killeen, TX, 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
- Nuisance threshold
- 2 noise events in 24 hours, 20 min continuous
- Audible distance
- 100 yards, or through a neighbor's wall
- Enforcing agency
- Killeen Animal Services and Killeen Police Department
- General penalty
- Fine up to $500 per offense (Sec. 1-8)
- Repeat offense
- 2+ convictions trigger removal-from-city hearing
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-37
Summary
Killeen's animal nuisance code makes a barking dog a public nuisance once it is heard continuously for 20 minutes at least twice in 24 hours, audible 100 yards away or through a neighbor's wall. Animal services or Killeen police can cite the owner, file a municipal court nuisance complaint, or impound the dog under Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-37.
(a)No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance... A person commits an offense if the person is an owner or keeper of an animal and the person permits, or by insufficient control allows, any of the following to occur:...(4)An animal to create a noise disturbance in such a manner as to annoy, distress, or disturb others within the vicinity thereof. For the purpose of this section, an animal noise nuisance shall be defined as a minimum of two (2) separate recorded noise events over a period of twenty-four (24) hours where the animal can be heard continuously for a twenty-minute period of time one hundred (100) yards away, or behind the wall of a livable structure;...(c)If any animal is shown to be a public nuisance as defined herein, and an animal services officer or a peace officer observes the nuisance behavior, an animal services officer or a peace officer may issue a citation, file a complaint of maintaining a nuisance with the municipal court, or impound the animal as authorized in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 6-37 of the Killeen Code of Ordinances treats a barking dog as a public nuisance rather than a simple noise complaint. The nuisance threshold is specific: an animal services officer or Killeen police officer must document at least two separate noise events within a 24-hour period, with the animal audible continuously for 20 minutes from 100 yards away or from behind the wall of a livable structure. Once that threshold is met, the observing officer may issue a citation, file a complaint of maintaining a nuisance in Killeen Municipal Court, or impound the dog outright.
The ordinance escalates for repeat offenders: if a person has two or more prior convictions under this section, a city enforcement agent may petition municipal court for a hearing to determine whether the dog is a continuing nuisance. If the court agrees, the judge can order the animal removed from Killeen's city limits entirely, or return it to the owner under conditions. An owner ordered to relocate the dog must give animal services the new address in writing within 48 hours of the order. The ordinance sits within Chapter 6, Division 2, Public Nuisances, alongside related bans on animals trespassing on school grounds, molesting passing vehicles, and creating odor or pest conditions, all enforced by the same animal services division and Killeen police.
Violations & Fines
A first citation under Sec. 6-37 is punished under the general penalty of Sec. 1-8: a fine up to $500 per offense, with each 24-hour period of ongoing barking counted as a separate violation. After two prior convictions, the city may seek a municipal court order removing the dog from Killeen within 48 hours, or, in default, awarding custody to the city. Owners can contest the nuisance finding at the hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times must my dog bark before it's a legal nuisance in Killeen?
What can animal services do about a barking dog in Killeen?
Can Killeen order a repeat-offender dog removed from the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Killeen to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.