Ramsey County, MN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Ramsey County, MN, 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
- County rule
- None: city animal control
- St. Paul citation
- Legislative Code § 200.14
- Standard
- Reasonable annoyance of another person
- Witnesses needed
- Typically two willing to testify
- St. Paul Animal Control
- 651-266-1100
Summary
There is no countywide animal-control ordinance: each Ramsey County city handles barking dogs. In St. Paul (county seat), a dog that howls, yelps or barks to the reasonable annoyance of another person is a violation; call St. Paul Animal Control.
Dogs cannot be allowed to howl, yelp, or bark to the reasonable annoyance of another person.
Full Breakdown
Ramsey County has no countywide animal control; every city runs its own, so barking-dog rules come from your city code. St. Paul prohibits allowing a dog to howl, yelp or bark to the reasonable annoyance of another person (Legislative Code § 200.14). St. Paul enforcement generally requires two witnesses (or an officer plus one witness) willing to testify. Roseville, Maplewood and other suburbs have similar nuisance-barking rules. Report barking in St. Paul to Animal Control at 651-266-1100 (business hours) or 651-291-1111 after hours.
Violations & Fines
St. Paul treats habitual nuisance barking as a violation; repeated complaints can lead to citations and, for chronic cases, potential nuisance-animal action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ramsey County have animal control?
How is barking enforced in St. Paul?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramsey County
Compare Ramsey County to another location·View the Minnesota noise ordinances overview
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