Snohomish County, WA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Snohomish County, WA, 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 rule
- SCC 10.01.040(1)(a)
- Repetitive barking defined
- 10+ min. per half hour, SCC 10.01.020(29)
- Kennel quiet hours
- 10 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays, 10 p.m.-8 a.m. weekends
- First infraction fine
- $50
- 24-hour repeat
- Misdemeanor, up to 90 days/$1,000
Summary
Frequent, repetitive or continuous animal noise that disturbs neighbors in a rural or residential district is a public disturbance noise at any hour under SCC 10.01.040(1)(a). Farm animals and compliant licensed kennels are exempt; repetitive barking is separately defined as 10-plus minutes of barking in any half hour.
(a) Keeping or harboring any animal or animals whose frequent, repetitive or continuous noisemaking unreasonably interferes with the peace and comfort of persons in rural or residential districts, except farm animals in zones where farm animals are allowed and except the keeping or harboring of animals in commercial kennels, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, pet shops, and grooming parlors which are in compliance with noise impact mitigation measures designed to meet the standards of SCC 10.01.030(2) and SCC 10.01.040(1) required as a part of a conditional use permit or SEPA determination issued by the Hearing Examiner or Department of Planning and Development Services.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040(1)(a) makes it unlawful, day or night, to keep or harbor an animal whose frequent, repetitive, or continuous noisemaking unreasonably interferes with the peace and comfort of people in a rural or residential district. The rule exempts farm animals in zones where they're allowed and exempts commercial kennels, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, pet shops, and grooming parlors that comply with noise-mitigation measures tied to a conditional use permit or SEPA determination. 020(29) defines 'repetitive barking' as barking, by one or more dogs, that totals ten minutes or more within any half-hour span, even if it isn't continuous, and that definition doubles as the threshold used elsewhere in the noise chapter.
m. on weekends, during which any repetitive barking, or barking lasting more than five minutes, is itself a noise-ordinance violation regardless of the kennel's general exemption. 030, so no sound-meter reading is required to cite a violation.
Violations & Fines
The sheriff's office enforces public disturbance noise complaints, including barking, under SCC 10.01.080(1) and (3). A first civil infraction carries a $50 penalty; a second violation of the same kind within one year raises the penalty to $100; and a second violation within 24 hours of the first is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Three violations within a year make any further offense within the following year a misdemeanor carrying the same jail and fine exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much barking is illegal in Snohomish County?
Are farm animals or kennels exempt from the barking rule?
What's the penalty for a barking dog complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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