Pasco, WA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Pasco regulates animal noise through two parts of the municipal code. PMC 6.05.350 (Animals disturbing the peace) makes it unlawful for an owner to allow an animal to cause serious or habitual disturbance or annoyance through frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noisy conduct that annoys, injures or endangers the safety, health, comfort or repose of others. The City of Pasco's guidance explains the practical test: a dog that can be heard barking continuously from inside a nearby enclosed structure, off the owner's property, for five minutes or longer is considered a nuisance animal. Separately, PMC 9.130.030 (the general noise ordinance) lists frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds made by any animal, emanating from a building, structure or property and received within a residential district, as a prohibited public disturbance noise. Barking-dog complaints are handled by animal-control services rather than the police noise line. The City directs residents to report barking dogs to the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter / Animal Control. A barking-dog complaint log/form is available through the City. Both PMC 6.05.350 and PMC 9.130.030 are Pasco's own ordinances, so this is a genuine local rule rather than reliance on state law.