Douglas County, CO Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Douglas County, CO, 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
- In noise decibel table?
- No -- animals excluded
- Exclusion citation
- Section 1704A.08.4
- Governed by
- County animal ordinance
- Report to
- Douglas County Animal Control
- Towns
- Have own barking rules
Summary
Animals are specifically excluded from Douglas County's Section 17A noise limits, so barking is not measured in decibels. Instead it is handled as a nuisance under the county's Animal Law and Care ordinance and by Animal Control.
The following uses and/or activities are excluded from the requirements of Section 1703A: ... 1704A.08 The sound made by: ... 1704A.08.4 Animals.
Full Breakdown
Section 1704A.08.4 of the Zoning Resolution lists 'Animals' among the sounds excluded from the county's maximum-permissible-noise-level requirements. Persistent barking is therefore addressed not by the decibel table but through Douglas County's animal ordinance, which treats a habitually barking or howling dog as a public nuisance. Complaints go to Douglas County Animal Law and Care / Animal Control. Incorporated towns such as Castle Rock and Parker have their own barking-dog provisions in their municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Handled as an animal nuisance under the county Animal Law and Care ordinance; officers may issue warnings, citations, and fines for a habitual barking nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report a barking dog under the noise ordinance?
Is a decibel reading used for barking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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