St. Joseph County, IN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

01 sets the county's baseline rule: no one may make or continue any loud, raucous, improper, unreasonable, offensive or unusual noise that disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others in the county. " Item (5) targets animals directly: keeping any animal or bird that causes frequent and long-continued noises disturbing the comfort or repose of anyone in the vicinity is a violation, except as permitted under chapter 90 of the county code, the county's separate animal-control chapter. as prima facie evidence of a violation, the barking-animal provision carries no decibel or distance threshold: it turns on whether the noise is "frequent and long-continued" and actually disturbs a neighbor's comfort or repose, a standard that lets the responding officer weigh the specific complaint.

06: a person charged by ticket, citation or affidavit can pay the scheduled fine at the traffic violations bureau by pleading guilty and waiving a court appearance, and either the county sheriff or county police can issue the citation. 06 as set out in the county's schedule of fines and fees, with each day the disturbance continues charged as a separate offense under the county's general penalty rule.