Skagit County, WA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Skagit 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
- Trigger
- Frequent, repetitive or continuous animal noise
- Presumption threshold
- 30+ minutes of noise
- 1st violation
- Warning only
- 2nd violation
- $125 civil infraction plus assessments
- 3rd+ violation
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000, 90 days jail
- Defense
- Livestock on ag-zoned land under Ch. 14.16
Summary
Skagit County makes it unlawful for an owner to knowingly, recklessly or negligently let an animal make frequent, repetitive or continuous noise that becomes a public disturbance. Noise lasting 30 minutes or more, or exceeding state environmental noise limits, is presumed a violation, with penalties escalating from a warning to a criminal misdemeanor.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly cause, or for the owner or person responsible for any animal to allow or permit, either recklessly or with criminal negligence, to originate from the property, frequent, repetitive or continuous noise made by such animal, which is a public disturbance. (2) Any violation of this section shall be punished as follows: (a) The first violation by a person within the preceding year shall result in a warning. (b) The second violation by a person within a one (1) year period shall be a Class 2 civil infraction carrying a monetary penalty and default amount of $125 plus statutory assessments. (c) A third or subsequent violation by a person within a one-year period shall be a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, 90 days in jail, or both. ... Such noise is presumed to be a public disturbance if the noise continues for a period of 30 minutes or more or if the noise exceeds that permitted by WAC Chapter 173-60 (maximum environmental noise levels)
Full Breakdown
010(1) makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly cause, or for an owner or responsible person to allow either recklessly or with criminal negligence, frequent, repetitive or continuous noise from an animal on the property that amounts to a public disturbance. Subsection (3) lists the factors the County weighs, including the noise's nature, volume, frequency, duration, time and location, and creates a presumption of violation if the noise continues for 30 minutes or more, or if it exceeds the levels set by WAC Chapter 173-60 (maximum environmental noise levels); a sound-level meter reading is not required to prove the offense.
16, or from animals on a permitted animal preserve or stockyard under the same chapter. Penalties escalate under subsection (2): a first violation within the preceding year is only a warning; a second violation in a one-year period is a Class 2 civil infraction carrying a default $125 penalty plus statutory assessments; a third or later violation in a one-year period becomes a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail. Subsection (5) lets the County seize and impound any animal constituting a public nuisance or engaged in conduct this section prohibits.
Violations & Fines
A first animal-noise complaint in a year draws only a warning under SCC 7.14.010(2)(a). A second violation within a year is a Class 2 civil infraction with a default $125 penalty plus statutory assessments; a third or later violation becomes a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail, and the animal may be impounded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be fined for a barking dog in unincorporated Skagit County?
How does Skagit County prove a dog's barking is a public disturbance?
Is there any defense to a Skagit County animal noise complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skagit County
Compare Skagit County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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