Overland Park, KS Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Overland Park, KS, 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 section
- OPMC § 7.08.002(B)
- Standard used
- Reasonable-person disturbance, not dB(A)
- Owner duty
- Abatement duty under § 7.08.003
- First-offense fine
- Minimum $50
- Enforcing agency
- Overland Park Police Department
Summary
Overland Park's noise ordinance, not its animal code, is what a neighbor invokes against a barking dog: owning, keeping or harboring an animal that howls, barks or emits audible sounds unreasonably loud or disturbing to a reasonable person is a Noise Disturbance under Chapter 7.08.
The owning, keeping or harboring of any animal that howls, barks or emits audible sounds, without provocation of the complainant, that are unreasonably loud or disturbing which are of such character, intensity and duration as to disturb the peace and quiet of a reasonable person in the neighborhood or to be detrimental to the life and health of any individual.
Full Breakdown
B makes it a Noise Disturbance for any person to own, keep or harbor an animal that howls, barks or emits audible sounds, without provocation of the complainant, that are unreasonably loud or disturbing, of such character, intensity and duration as to disturb the peace and quiet of a reasonable person in the neighborhood or to be detrimental to the life and health of any individual. Unlike the numeric dB(A) table in subsection A, this provision uses a reasonableness standard rather than a decibel threshold, so a responding officer weighs how loud, how long and how often the barking occurs, and whether the complainant provoked the animal.
003 separately makes it unlawful for the property owner or tenant with control of residential property to allow a Noise Disturbance to occur there, and places the abatement duty on that owner or tenant once notified. Because the standard sits in the noise chapter, it applies regardless of zoning district, unlike the Commercial/Industrial/Residential distinctions used for the decibel table. Ordinance history for this subsection traces to NOI-2287 (2001), with later amendments in NOI-2373 (2002) and NOI-2772 (2008) and the current codification under NOI-3051 (2014). Complaints are investigated by Overland Park Police, and violations are prosecuted in Municipal Court.
Violations & Fines
A first conviction under Chapter 7.08 carries a minimum $50 fine, rising to a minimum $150 for a second conviction within 24 months and a minimum $250 for a third or later conviction. The Court may impose up to six months in jail in addition to any fine, and can suspend the amount of any fine over $200 for 12 months if the violator has no further violations. Each day a barking disturbance continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a numeric decibel test for a barking dog complaint?
Who is responsible if my neighbor's dog barks constantly?
Does provoking the dog change the outcome?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Overland Park
Compare Overland Park to another location·View the Kansas noise ordinances overview
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Johnson County handle barking dogs.