San Leandro, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 4-1-1115(a) of the San Leandro Municipal Code declares it a disturbing, excessive and offensive noise violation for any person having charge, care, custody or control of an animal to permit that animal to emit frequent or long-continued noise causing annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness nearby. The section builds in two defenses: the noise is not a violation if someone is trespassing or threatening to trespass on the property where the animal is kept, or if the noise has another legitimate cause, such as a person teasing or provoking the animal.

The code text itself states that this subsection is intended to be read more broadly than the similar nuisance-by-animal rule found in the animal control chapter at § 4-11-435, which separately makes it unlawful to knowingly permit an animal to disturb a neighbor's peace by barking. Both provisions sit under the City's general noise ordinance purpose in § 4-1-1115, which is to prohibit loud, unreasonable, unusual or boisterous disturbances within city limits except for activities specifically exempted elsewhere in the same article, such as permitted special events, school athletics, or daytime residential maintenance work.