Oklahoma City, OK Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Oklahoma City, OK, 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
- Noise-chapter section
- § 34-4(a)(1), animals and birds
- Animal-chapter section
- § 8-47(a)(3), continuous barking
- First noise offense
- Class "a" offense
- Repeat noise offense
- Class "b" offense, § 34-10(a)
- Enforcement
- Animal Welfare Superintendent or designee
Summary
Two Oklahoma City ordinances reach a barking dog: Municipal Code § 34-4(a)(1) bans owning or harboring any animal that produces frequent or prolonged noisemaking, and § 8-47(a)(3) separately makes it unlawful to let an animal continuously bark, howl or disturb the peace. Either section supports a citation.
§ 34-4. - Specific prohibitions. (a)... (1)Animals and birds. Owning, maintaining, harboring, or maintaining for hire any animal or animals, bird or birds, which produce frequent or prolonged noisemaking, whether originating from public or private facilities, except publicly owned and/or publicly operated zoos. Police dogs are exempt from this section under the conditions enumerated in Section 8-137.
§ 8-47. - Prohibited acts. (a)It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to allow any animal to: ...(3)allow any animal to continuously bark, howl or otherwise disturb the peace.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Oklahoma City regulates a barking dog through both its Noise ordinance and its Animal ordinance, and either can support enforcement. Chapter 34's specific prohibitions list, § 34-4(a)(1), makes it a violation to own, maintain or harbor for hire any animal or bird that produces "frequent or prolonged noisemaking," from public or private property, with an exception only for publicly owned or operated zoos and, per a cross-reference to § 8-137, police dogs under specified conditions. " Separately, Chapter 8's animal ordinance, § 8-47(a)(3), makes it "unlawful and an offense" for an owner to allow an animal "to continuously bark, howl or otherwise disturb the peace," and lets the Animal Welfare Superintendent, under § 8-47(c), issue a citation and set terms and conditions the owner must sign to keep custody of the animal; violating those terms is itself a separate offense that can lead to impoundment.
A § 34-4 noise citation is a Class "a" offense on a first violation and a Class "b" offense on a second or subsequent violation under § 34-10(a), with each continuous day of disturbance counted as one offense. 00, excluding costs and fees.
Violations & Fines
A first noise-chapter citation under § 34-4(a)(1) is a Class "a" offense; a second or later one is a Class "b" offense under § 34-10(a), and each continuous day of barking counts as a separate offense. An animal-chapter citation under § 8-47 defaults to a Class "a" offense and a fine up to $500.00 under § 8-23 and § 1-6, and breaking any terms and conditions the Superintendent sets under § 8-47(c) can lead to impoundment of the dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Oklahoma City ordinance covers a neighbor's barking dog?
Can Animal Welfare set conditions instead of just fining the owner?
Does a second barking complaint carry a bigger penalty?
Are police dogs exempt from the noise ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oklahoma City
Compare Oklahoma City to another location·View the Oklahoma noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle barking dogs.