San Benito County, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in San Benito County, CA, 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
- § 13.01.025
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Enforced by
- Hollister Animal Control Bureau
- Standard
- Habitual barking disturbing the peace
- Penalty basis
- Citation as public nuisance
Summary
Unincorporated San Benito County makes it unlawful to keep a dog that habitually barks, howls, or yelps and disturbs the peace of any person under the county code's dog nuisance provision.
It is unlawful for any person to keep any dog which by habitual howling, barking or yelping or other noises, disturbs the peace of any person.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
Section 13.01.025 of the San Benito County Code declares it unlawful to keep any dog whose habitual howling, barking, or yelping disturbs the peace of another person. The rule applies countywide but is enforceable only in the unincorporated area, since Hollister and San Juan Bautista run their own animal codes. The County Poundmaster's authority is contracted to the City of Hollister's Animal Control Bureau, which investigates complaints and can issue a citation to the dog's owner or keeper. There is no decibel threshold: the standard is whether the noise disturbs the peace of a person nearby.
Violations & Fines
Violating the nuisance provision can result in a citation from Hollister's Animal Control Bureau acting as county poundmaster; repeated barking complaints may lead to additional enforcement action or a public nuisance abatement proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Hollister city limits?
Is there a decibel limit for barking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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