Barking dog rules in Tustin, CA — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Tustin formally adopted Orange County's Barking Dog Ordinance by reference into the Tustin City Code (Animals chapter), so OC Animal Care enforces it inside the city. A dog is a barking-dog nuisance with 30+ minutes of incessant barking, or 60+ minutes of accumulated intermittent barking, in a 24-hour period. Civil fines escalate with repeat citations.
Unlike its general noise chapter, Tustin's municipal code did not originally regulate barking dogs. The City Council later amended the Animals chapter of the Tustin City Code to adopt by reference the County of Orange's animal-control provisions, including the County Barking Dog Ordinance, so that OC Animal Care can enforce them within the incorporated city. Under that adopted standard, a barking dog is one that barks, bays, cries, howls or makes noise for an extended period that disturbs any person at any time of day or night. Per OC Animal Care's enforcement definition for adopted-ordinance cities (which include Tustin), the threshold is 30 minutes or more of incessant (non-stop) barking within a 24-hour period, or 60 minutes or more of accumulated intermittent (on/off) barking in a 24-hour period. A dog is not a nuisance if it is barking at a trespasser or because it is being teased or provoked. The process generally involves a written/online complaint, a courtesy notice with time to resolve, a second complaint and signed affidavit, then an administrative citation with escalating civil fines and an administrative hearing option. Sustained animal noise can also be addressed under the city's general Chapter 6 decibel limits. Contact OC Animal Care's Barking Dog Program at 714-796-6442.
Citations under the adopted Barking Dog Ordinance carry escalating civil fines that increase for repeat citations within the same period. Tustin's adopting ordinance provided that an unpaid fine becomes subject to a late penalty equal to the fine if not paid within 15 days after it is due.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle barking dogs.
See how Tustin's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
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