Meridian, ID Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 6-2-8(A) of the Meridian City Code sits in Chapter 2, Animal Control, of Title 6, Police Regulations. It puts the duty on the dog owner: it is unlawful to permit a dog owned by that person to carry on excessive, continuous or untimely barking or noise. The three adjectives are joined by "or", so a dog that barks without a break, a dog that barks too much, and a dog that barks at the wrong time are each covered. The subsection prints no decibel reading, no clock hours and no minimum duration, and the definitions in § 6-2-1 do not define barking, noise, excessive or untimely.

The owner is defined broadly. Section 6-2-1 says "own" means to be the owner, or to keep, harbor, or possess, or to accept or maintain custody, control, or care of an animal. The definition of "owner" reaches any person owning, keeping, harboring, or possessing an animal, or accepting or maintaining custody, control, or care of it. The person cited is therefore whoever keeps the dog, not only the name on a license.

The penalty is a single figure. A violation is an infraction punishable by a fine of $100. The opening sentence of § 6-2-8 adds that a court sentencing a person for a violation of the chapter can assess court costs on top of the fines and penalties. Compare the leash rule in subsection D, which steps from $100 to $200 to $300 for a first, second and third violation: the barking subsection prints no such ladder.

Enforcement runs through the Animal Control Agency that the City Council appoints under § 6-2-2. Animal control officers, appointed by the Chief of Police or the agency, are authorized to issue uniform citations for violations of the chapter. Under § 6-2-2(B)(8), the notice of ordinance violation can be signed by any person witnessing a violation as well as the witnessing Animal Control Officer.

Barking is not a ground for the dangerous or at-risk designation in § 6-2-6. Those definitions in § 6-2-1 turn on bites, physical attacks and injury. Noise from other animals is handled separately: § 6-2-7(B) makes it unlawful to harbor livestock that emits noises disturbing to residents, and the code defines livestock to include chicken hens and roosters. The general noise section, § 6-3-6, is a different provision with a misdemeanor penalty.