Barking Dogs
Chico Animal Services is here to solve your barking dog complaint. We encourage you to work out any barking dog issues with your neighbors. A formal complaint should be filed only after your attempts to resolve the problem have been unsuccessful.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all barking is considered nuisance barking. A dog barking at someone coming onto private property where the dog is located such as a service person, a visitor or intruder, or a dog barking because they are being teased or provoked by someone (other than their owner), would not be considered nuisance barking.
Complaints about barking happening on private property (within an apartment complex or mobile home park) should be handled by the apartment or park manager.
Please read about City of Chico’s Municipal Code 7.08.120 -Nuisances-designated Here.
If you feel the barking is truly a nuisance, the first step is to contact the dog's owner. Call, visit or write a letter (posted or mailed) to your neighbor explaining that their dog is barking, and be as detailed as possible using the information from your log. Your neighbor may not even know their dog is barking and quite often this is all that is needed to resolve the issue. Note the day and time you called or visited and keep a copy of the letter you sent for your records.
If your attempts to resolve the barking dog issue directly with the dog owner have been unsuccessful:
Start a barking dog investigation by filling out an Initial Barking Dog Complaint Form. Animal Control does not respond to anonymous or incomplete forms or phoned in complaints.
You can file out this form in one of two ways:
Print out and fax or mail an Initial Barking Dog Complaint Form.
Fill out form online HERE. (You can attach pictures and a barking dog log.)
You must have the accurate address of where the dog resides on the complaint form. Be advised that once you have filed this form as a complainant, you may be asked to attend an administrative hearing if the person that was cited contests the citation. If you do not attend the hearing, the citation may be dismissed in the dog owner’s favor, ending the complaint process.
Once you complete and submit an Initial Barking Dog Complaint form, an Animal Control Officer will visit the dog owner to make them aware of the complaint. The owner will receive tips to reduce the barking and inform them of the consequences for not complying. Often this may be enough to resolve the barking dog issue.
At the time of Animal Control Initial visit, the owner will receive a Notice of Violation which will give them 7 days to address the barking issues. If after 7 days the barking has not subsided, a barking dog log must be completed by the complainant and sent to Animal Control for review. If that log shows nuisance barking an Administration Citation may be written to the dog owner. Please not that If the barking completely stops or does not happen for a period of time, Animal Control may request a brand-new barking dog investigation be started.
The fine for a violation of Title 7 of the Chico Municipal Code is $75.00 for the first offense, $150.00 for the second offense and $300.00 for the third offense. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
If you have questions about barking dogs, please contact Chico Animal Control at 530-897-4960
Information for Dog Owners:
Barking Dog Tips
Bark Collars
PLEASE NOTE: Not all barking is considered nuisance barking. A dog barking at someone coming onto private property where the dog is located such as a service person, a visitor or intruder, or a dog barking because they are being teased or provoked by someone (other than their owner), would not be considered nuisance barking.
Complaints about barking happening on private property (within an apartment complex or mobile home park) should be handled by the apartment or park manager.
Please read about City of Chico’s Municipal Code 7.08.120 -Nuisances-designated Here.
If you feel the barking is truly a nuisance, the first step is to contact the dog's owner. Call, visit or write a letter (posted or mailed) to your neighbor explaining that their dog is barking, and be as detailed as possible using the information from your log. Your neighbor may not even know their dog is barking and quite often this is all that is needed to resolve the issue. Note the day and time you called or visited and keep a copy of the letter you sent for your records.
If your attempts to resolve the barking dog issue directly with the dog owner have been unsuccessful:
Start a barking dog investigation by filling out an Initial Barking Dog Complaint Form. Animal Control does not respond to anonymous or incomplete forms or phoned in complaints.
You can file out this form in one of two ways:
Print out and fax or mail an Initial Barking Dog Complaint Form.
Fill out form online HERE. (You can attach pictures and a barking dog log.)
You must have the accurate address of where the dog resides on the complaint form. Be advised that once you have filed this form as a complainant, you may be asked to attend an administrative hearing if the person that was cited contests the citation. If you do not attend the hearing, the citation may be dismissed in the dog owner’s favor, ending the complaint process.
Once you complete and submit an Initial Barking Dog Complaint form, an Animal Control Officer will visit the dog owner to make them aware of the complaint. The owner will receive tips to reduce the barking and inform them of the consequences for not complying. Often this may be enough to resolve the barking dog issue.
At the time of Animal Control Initial visit, the owner will receive a Notice of Violation which will give them 7 days to address the barking issues. If after 7 days the barking has not subsided, a barking dog log must be completed by the complainant and sent to Animal Control for review. If that log shows nuisance barking an Administration Citation may be written to the dog owner. Please not that If the barking completely stops or does not happen for a period of time, Animal Control may request a brand-new barking dog investigation be started.
The fine for a violation of Title 7 of the Chico Municipal Code is $75.00 for the first offense, $150.00 for the second offense and $300.00 for the third offense. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
If you have questions about barking dogs, please contact Chico Animal Control at 530-897-4960
Information for Dog Owners:
Barking Dog Tips
Bark Collars
