Olympia, WA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Olympia handles barking dogs through Chapter 6.04 of the Olympia Municipal Code, the animal chapter, rather than through a decibel table. Item 6 of the nuisance pet animal definition in OMC 6.04.030(V) reaches any pet animal that habitually or continually disturbs the peace and quiet of any individual or neighborhood by barking, whining, howling, or making any other noise. The definition prints no decibel level, no clock hours and no minimum number of minutes. The test is whether the noise is habitual or continual and whether it disturbs a person or a neighborhood.

The responsible party is the person who harbors, keeps, possesses, maintains, or has temporary custody of the animal. OMC 6.04.050 makes that person responsible for the animal's behavior whether the owner knowingly permits it or not, so a dog that barks while its owner is away at work still counts against the owner. Under OMC 6.04.030(X), an owner also includes anyone who encourages a pet animal to remain about their property for fourteen consecutive days or more, and the parent or guardian of an owner under eighteen is treated as the owner.

Enforcement belongs to Animal Services, the agency the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater and Thurston County designate to enforce the chapter and run the shelter, working through officers who include Animal Services officers and police officers. An officer can impound a pet animal in violation of OMC 6.04.050(A) through (D) under OMC 6.04.100(A), which covers the nuisance pet animal provision. To reclaim the animal, the owner has a 48-hour hold period, excluding Sundays and holidays, and must pay the claim fee, all fines and penalties and any medical costs, and obtain a license if the animal was not previously licensed. OMC 6.04.070 also allows a humane box trap on a complainant's property to trap nuisance pet animals, with the animal returned to its owner or taken to Animal Services.