Santa Barbara County, CA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Sec. 7-37 makes it unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to keep, maintain or permit a dog under their charge to emit excessive noise. "Excessive noise" is defined as barks, cries or sounds that are loud, frequent and continued over time so as to deprive persons residing in two or more dwelling units in the neighborhood of the reasonable comfortable enjoyment of their homes or property. A dwelling unit is measured as a county assessor's parcel, with condos and apartment units in one building counted as a single parcel.

The rule does not apply to a permitted commercial animal establishment or to a parcel designated or zoned exclusively for agriculture. Sec. 7-38 requires the Animal Services Division of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department to adopt written policies for processing complaints, including notification, investigation, voluntary mediation, voluntary obedience training, and referral to the district attorney. Sec. 7-39 gives the district attorney civil and criminal enforcement tools: the DA can seek an injunction in Superior Court, and a person who willfully violates Sec. 7-37 is civilly liable for a penalty up to $2,000 plus the county's litigation costs. Criminally, a willful violation may be filed as an infraction or misdemeanor at the DA's discretion.