Bernalillo County, NM Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 30-120, titled "Animals and fowl," is the operative provision: "No person shall keep or maintain, or permit the keeping of upon any premises owned, occupied or controlled by such person, any animal or fowl otherwise permitted to be kept which, by any sound, cry or behavioral noise for an unusual length of time, shall cause annoyance or discomfort to a person residing in any residential neighborhood." It sits in Article IV, Noise, of Chapter 30, so it draws on the article's own definitions and standards rather than standing alone. Section 30-111 defines "nighttime" as sunset to sunrise and "daytime" as sunrise to sunset, both as recorded by the United States Weather Bureau, and section 30-115 sets the general sound level ceiling a receiving residential property may not exceed: 45 dB(A) at night and 55 dB(A) in daytime. Section 30-116 backs that with a catch-all noise rule covering any "loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood," and lists factors an officer weighs, including the noise's duration, its proximity to sleeping facilities, and whether it is recurrent or constant, all of which apply directly to a chronic barking complaint.

The code cross-references section 6-47's separate Animal Care Services provision against animals that "persistently or continuously bark, howl or make noise," so a resident has two enforcement paths for the same barking dog: a noise-code complaint under section 30-120 or an animal-nuisance complaint to Animal Care Services under section 6-47.