Barking Dogs
The Law
Minneapolis City Ordinance 64.90. Dogs disturbing the peace. It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, have in possession, or harbor any dog which by frequent and habitual howling, yelping, barking, or otherwise, produce noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet, or repose of a person or persons of ordinary sensibility, provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized hospitals or clinics conducted for the treatment of small animals.
What constitutes "disturbing" or "disturbed"?
The following barking behavior would meet the threshold of “disturbing” and a violation of Mpls. Ord. 64.90:
- A dog barking continuously for more than 20 minutes.
- A dog barking continuously for more than 10 minutes on 3 separate occasions in the period of 14 days.
- A dog barking continuously for more than 5 minutes (between the hours of 11:00pm and 6:00am) on 3 separate occasions in the period of 14 days.
Other incidents of barking behavior that appear to meet the ordinance language will need to be reviewed by city staff on whether the behavior is in violation of the ordinance.
* Important Note: The barking cannot be provoked.
Reporting Barking Violations
1) To report a barking dog to Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (MACC), please call 311 (612-673-3000) from Monday to Friday 7:00am to 7:00pm
MACC does not respond to barking complaints outside of the following hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00am to 10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00am to 4:00pm
2) In order to make a complaint on a barking dog, you will need to:
- Be willing to give your name and address.
- Case law requires that barking complaints have a documented complainant who is not a city employee.
- Complainant's information is not public and can only be released via a court order.
- Provide the exact address of the barking dog,
- Provide the date, time, and the location of the dog barking.
Complaint Response
Upon receiving a complaint of a barking dog violation, MACC operates in the following manner:
1st Barking Dog Complaint – A barking form letter is sent out to the dog owner's property indicating that MACC has received a complaint of a dog's barking in violation of Minneapolis City Ordinance. The letter indicates the ordinance requirements what they can do, and the consequences for a violation of the barking ordinance. The owner is given 7 days to address the issue before any additional action by MACC is taken.
2nd Barking Dog Complaint – A second barking form letter is sent out to the dog owner's property indicating that MACC has received a second complaint of a dog's barking in violation of Minneapolis City Ordinance. The letter reiterates the ordinance requirements what they can do, and the consequences for a violation of the barking ordinance. The owner is given 7 days to address the issue before any additional action by MACC is taken.
3rd Barking Dog Complaint – An officer is dispatched to the address to record any barking. The officer will park in such a manner so as not to incite the dog and records for 10 minutes. If the officer determines that the dog is disturbing the peace as described in ordinance 64.90 (producing noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace of a person of ordinary sensibility) a $200 civil citation is issued.
4th to 7th Barking Dog Complaints - Same procedure as 3rd complaint, except the citation may be doubled for each subsequent violation up to $2,000.
If MACC is unable to document any violation of MCO 64.90 Dogs Disturbing the Peace, the complainant will be referred to a petition process with the City Attorney's Office.
Last updated Jan. 31, 2013