Youngstown, OH Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Youngstown, OH, 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
- §505.09 Barking or Howling Dogs
- Standard
- Noise disturbing neighborhood peace and quiet
- Applies
- At any hour, day or night
- Repeat-offense proof
- Must occur at same property as prior offense
- First offense
- Minor misdemeanor
- Repeat offense
- Misdemeanor of the fourth degree
Summary
In the City of Youngstown, Ohio, keeping a dog that barks, howls or emits unreasonably loud sounds disturbing the peace and quiet of a neighborhood violates § 505.09. The section defines 'unreasonably loud' by reference to a neighbor's place of abode, and repeat offenses must be tied to the same property to count as subsequent violations.
(a) No person shall keep any dog which barks, howls, or emits audible sounds which are unreasonably loud or disturbing and which are of such character, intensity and duration, as to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or are detrimental to the life and health of any individual. In order to prove subsequent offenses, herein, it must be proven that the offensive conduct occurred and was permitted at or near the same property or structure thereon. (b) "Unreasonably loud" means that degree of noise emitted by any dog within the confines of the City that would be unreasonably loud or disturbing to one in or about his or her place of abode, or which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood at any hour. ... (c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on each subsequent offense such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Full Breakdown
Youngstown Codified Ordinances § 505.09 prohibits keeping any dog that 'barks, howls, or emits audible sounds which are unreasonably loud or disturbing' when the noise is of a character, intensity and duration that disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or is detrimental to an individual's life and health. The ordinance defines 'unreasonably loud' as noise from a dog within city limits that would be unreasonably loud or disturbing to someone in or about their place of abode, or that disturbs the neighborhood's peace and quiet 'at any hour,' meaning the rule applies day or night with no fixed decibel test.
To build a case for a subsequent, harsher offense, the City must prove the offensive barking occurred and was permitted at or near the same property or structure as the earlier violation, tying repeat enforcement to a specific address rather than treating any later complaint anywhere as escalation. Complaints are typically investigated by Youngstown Police or Code Enforcement acting on a neighbor's report, since the ordinance is a peace-and-quiet nuisance provision rather than a decibel-metered noise code. A first violation is a minor misdemeanor, a citation without jail exposure; each subsequent offense at the same property is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, which under the general penalty chapter § 501.99 can carry a fine and up to thirty days in jail.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of § 505.09 is a minor misdemeanor, punishable by a fine with no jail time. A second or later violation tied to the same dog owner's property is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, exposing the owner to a fine and up to thirty days in jail under the citywide penalty schedule in § 501.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a decibel limit for barking dogs in Youngstown?
Does the barking dog law apply at night only?
What proof does the City need for a repeat barking violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Youngstown
Compare Youngstown to another location·View the Ohio noise ordinances overview
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