Tucson, AZ Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Tucson, 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
- Prohibited conduct
- Owning/harboring a frequently noisy animal
- Standard
- Plainly audible + disturbs neighborhood
- Who can cite
- Any peace officer or county animal control officer
- Decibel meter needed
- No: independent of Table I
- Default responsible party
- Owner/lessee/occupant if actor unknown
- Penalty class
- Civil infraction, § 1-8(2)
Summary
Owning or harboring an animal or bird that frequently or continuously howls, barks, or squawks and disturbs a neighborhood violates Tucson Code § 16-31(b)(3). Any peace officer or county animal control officer can issue a citation directly.
(3) Owning, possessing, harboring or permitting any animal or bird which frequently or for continuous duration howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other sounds. Any peace officer or any county animal control officer is hereby authorized to issue citations to owners for any violation of this subsection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-150: Current through June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Tucson Code § 16-31(b)(3) makes it a violation to own, possess, harbor, or permit any animal or bird that frequently or for a continuous duration howls, barks, meows, squawks, or makes other disturbing sounds, provided the noise produces plainly audible sound beyond the property line and disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or person. Like the amplified-sound and loading-noise clauses in the same subsection, this standard is explicitly independent of the numeric Table I dB(A) property-line limits in § 16-31(a): a barking dog doesn't need to register on a sound meter above 70 dB(A) to be cited; audibility and disturbance are enough.
The section grants dual enforcement authority uncommon elsewhere in the chapter: "Any peace officer or any county animal control officer is hereby authorized to issue citations to owners for any violation of this subsection," meaning Pima Animal Care Center officers, not just Tucson Police, can act directly on a barking-dog complaint. As with the rest of § 16-31, general exemptions in § 16-31(c) cover emergency work, alert sounds, government operations, and approved parades or school events, none of which typically shield a residential pet owner.
If the specific responsible party can't be pinned down, § 16-31(j) makes the property's owner, lessee, or occupant responsible by default. A person cited can raise a hardship variance before the board of adjustment under § 16-31(e) only for pre-existing activities, which has limited application to an individual pet.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a civil infraction under § 16-31(l), punished per minor section 1-8(2) and the procedures of Chapter 8 of the Tucson Code, and the court also enters an abatement order against the responsible party. Under § 16-31(m), the police department and city attorney enforce the section, and § 16-31(b)(3) additionally authorizes county animal control officers to issue citations directly; a complaining neighbor is not necessarily required to appear in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pima Animal Care cite me for a barking dog in Tucson?
Does the dog's barking need to hit a certain decibel level?
What counts as 'frequent or continuous' barking under the code?
Who is responsible if the dog belongs to a tenant, not the property owner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tucson
Compare Tucson to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pima County handle barking dogs.