Provo, UT Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Provo, UT, 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
- Continuous-barking threshold
- 10 minutes nonstop
- Intermittent threshold
- One-half hour or more
- Applies
- Any time of day or night
- Exception
- Trespass, threatened trespass, or teasing/provocation
- Code Section
- Provo City Code 8.02.100
Summary
Provo City Code deems any animal that barks, whines, or howls in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion a nuisance. Excessive barking means barking continuously for ten minutes, or intermittently for a half hour or more, disturbing any person at any time of day or night.
8.02.100 Nuisance Animals. (1) Any animal which does any of the following shall be deemed a nuisance: ... (c) Barks, whines, or howls or makes other disturbing noises in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion. (2) An animal control officer may summarily impound a dog, which is barking excessively and no owner or custodian of the dog is present to control the dog. Excessive barking shall mean a dog barking, baying, crying, howling or making any other noise continuously for a period of ten (10) minutes, or barking intermittently for one-half (1/2) hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night regardless of whether the animal is physically situated in or upon private property. Provided, however, that an animal shall not be in violation if, at the time the animal is barking or making any other noise, a person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal is situated or if the animal is teased or provoked.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-17, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
100(6) makes it unlawful to possess, harbor or own any animal which is a nuisance. 100(2) defines the standard: an animal control officer may summarily impound a dog that is barking excessively when no owner or custodian is present to control it, and 'excessive barking' means a dog barking, baying, crying, howling or making any other noise continuously for a period of ten (10) minutes, or barking intermittently for one-half (1/2) hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night, regardless of whether the animal is physically situated on private property.
An animal is not in violation if, at the time it is barking, a person is trespassing or threatening to trespass on the property where the animal is situated, or if the animal is teased or provoked.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 8.02.015, a violation of Title 8 is a class B misdemeanor, but is reduced to an infraction where it involves a domesticated dog or cat owned by the violator (unless the owner has been fined three or more times in the prior twelve months for the same animal, the violation is a statutory nuisance, or it threatens an identifiable third party). A dog barking excessively with no owner present may be summarily impounded (Sec. 8.02.100(2)); three or more convictions in twelve months can lead the Justice Court to bar the owner from keeping an animal in the City for one year (Sec. 8.02.150).
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a barking dog violate Provo's ordinance?
Are there exceptions to Provo's barking rule?
What happens to a chronically barking dog's owner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Provo
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle barking dogs.