Tazewell County, IL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Tazewell County, IL, also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances, define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 90.20(A)(3)
- Noise presumption threshold
- 20+ consecutive minutes
- First-offense fine
- $300
- Second-offense fine
- $600
- Third+ offense fine
- $1,000
- Complaint requirement
- complainant support required
- Enforcement
- Animal Shelter Manager or delegate
Summary
Unincorporated Tazewell County treats a dog whose barking, caterwauling, or other noise disturbs a household as a nuisance animal under County Code § 90.20(A)(3). A nuisance is presumed once the noise runs 20 or more consecutive minutes, and confirmed violations bring escalating fines up to $1,000.
(A) No person shall own, possess, or harbor a nuisance animal within the county. An animal, other than a dog trained for law enforcement in the performance of its duty, shall be considered a nuisance if such animal: ... (3) Causes a disturbance by excessive barking, caterwauling, or other noise-making. A public nuisance shall be rebuttably presumed when an animal continuously emits noise which can be heard within a residence or other occupied building for 20 or more consecutive minutes; ... (B) The Animal Shelter Manager or delegate, upon reasonable grounds, shall impound any animal creating a nuisance by being in violation of division (A) of this section and not restrained by a competent person. Failure to comply with division (A) of this section shall be a violation of law for which, upon conviction thereof, the owner of such animal shall be penalized $300 for the first violation, $600 for the second violation, and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. This section requires the support of the complainant for the issuance of a violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-7: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. LU-21-12, passed 9-29-2021; and Res. LU-26-09, passed 7-29-2026).
Full Breakdown
" That presumption shifts the burden to the animal's owner once a complainant documents 20 straight minutes of audible barking or other noise. The same nuisance definition also reaches animals that damage property, create unsanitary or dangerous conditions, chase vehicles, or attack people or other animals while off the owner's premises, so a chronic barker can be cited alongside other nuisance conduct. Enforcement runs through the Animal Shelter Manager or delegate, who may impound the animal under division (B) upon reasonable grounds if it is not restrained by a competent person.
20(B) expressly "requires the support of the complainant for the issuance of a violation," meaning the neighbor who is disturbed has to back up the complaint for the county to act.
Violations & Fines
A confirmed § 90.20 nuisance violation is penalized $300 for a first offense, $600 for a second, and $1,000 for the third and every offense after that, on top of possible impoundment of the animal. Separately, intentionally provoking an animal into creating a disturbance is its own violation under § 90.18, punishable under the general § 90.99 penalty of $25 to $500 per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a dog have to bark before it's a legal nuisance in Tazewell County?
What fine does a barking dog owner face in Tazewell County?
Can animal control act on my complaint alone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tazewell County
Compare Tazewell County to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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