Monterey County, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

The Monterey County Noise Control ordinance (Chapter 10.60) is built around decibel-based device and nighttime standards rather than a stand-alone animal-noise section. A barking dog that produces loud and unreasonable sound during the protected nighttime period, or that is plainly audible from 50 feet, can fall under Sec. 10.60.040's general prohibition and the 45 Leq / 65 dBA Table 1 standards. Habitual daytime barking is generally handled as a public nuisance and through Monterey County animal-control authority rather than the noise code. Because much of unincorporated Monterey County is agricultural, commercial agricultural operations are exempt from the Sec. 10.60.040 nighttime rules, which can affect complaints about farm and ranch animals. Complaints about barking dogs are typically routed to Monterey County Animal Services or, for active nighttime disturbances, to HCD code enforcement and the Sheriff. The County's 2022-23 Civil Grand Jury report describes a noise complaint hotline (effective October 28, 2022) staffed by an HCD code enforcement officer on Friday and Saturday evenings; after those hours calls go to voicemail, so an ongoing daytime barking problem is better directed to Animal Services. Residents inside incorporated cities should use that city's animal-noise ordinance instead.