Barking dog rules in South Bend, IN — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Keeping any animal or bird that makes frequent or long-continued noise disturbing neighbors is a nuisance under Sec. 13-57(c)(5) and Sec. 13-81(c). Enforcement is complaint-based; no decibel reading or set number of minutes applies.
Both South Bend's general nuisance section (Sec. 13-57(c)(5)) and Article 7 (Sec. 13-81(c)) treat persistent animal noise as a violation. The test is whether the animal causes frequent or long-continued noise that disturbs the comfort or repose of a person in the vicinity, not a decibel measurement. Complaints go to South Bend Animal Care & Control or the Police Department. The person in possession of the property is cited; if no one is present, the citation goes to the owner of record identified through St. Joseph County Assessor records.
A barking-dog citation under Sec. 13-57 carries $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for a third and subsequent, plus a $50 late fee after 30 days. Each day is a separate offense.
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