Maricopa County, AZ Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Maricopa County, AZ, 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
- Ordinance
- Maricopa County Ordinance P-6
- Scope
- Unincorporated Maricopa County only
- Enforcement
- Investigation plus recommended mediation, no fixed fine
- Adopted
- September 8, 1992; effective January 1, 1993
Summary
In unincorporated Maricopa County, County Ordinance P-6 makes it unlawful for a dog owner to let their dog bark, yowl, or yip excessively, with the county's enforcement agent investigating complaints and recommending a mediator to resolve neighbor disputes.
It shall be unlawful for any person having custody or control of a dog in any unincorporated area of Maricopa County to permit that dog to bark excessively. For purpose of this Ordinance, a bark, yowl, yip or any other noise made naturally by a dog shall be deemed to be a bark.
Full Breakdown
Maricopa County Ordinance P-6 makes it unlawful for anyone with custody of a dog in the unincorporated county to let it bark, yowl, or yip excessively. The ordinance defines any of those sounds as a 'bark' for enforcement purposes. Rather than issuing an automatic fine, the county's enforcement agent investigates each complaint and can recommend a mediator to help the dog owner and the complaining neighbor resolve the dispute directly. That mediation route doesn't replace other legal remedies -- the ordinance expressly leaves any other remedy available under law in place. Adopted September 8, 1992, effective January 1, 1993, the rule applies only outside Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and the county's other incorporated cities.
Violations & Fines
Violating owners face investigation by the county enforcement agent, who can recommend a mediator; the ordinance doesn't set a fine schedule and leaves other legal remedies available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is barking dog noise illegal in Maricopa County?
What happens if I file a complaint about a neighbor's barking dog?
Does this rule apply in Phoenix or Scottsdale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview
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