I’ve been collating information on laws for the area where I live that relate to barking dogs. If you’re in Culver City, Los Angeles County, or the state of California, some or all of this should be useful to you. If you also have a Home Owners’ Association there is probably also wording in your CC&Rs or Bylaws that prohibit annoying noises and describe the powers of enforcement given to the HOA.
These links are also more generally useful on local laws:
I also found this page and this page to be useful.
Below are the specific sections of the relevant codes that apply to barking dogs:
Culver City § 9.07.030 ANIMALS AND FOWL
Any animal or fowl which emanates sound or outcry in an excessive, continuous, or untimely fashion, shall be considered a public nuisance and is subject to abatement pursuant to Chapter 9.04 of the Culver City Municipal Code.
(’65 Code, § 23-44.6) (Ord. No. 95-004 § 2 (part))
Culver City § 9.01.035 ANIMAL ANNOYANCE PROHIBITED
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor or keep any animal, bird or fowl which disturbs the peace or causes annoyance or disturbance to the neighborhood or reasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or repose of any person or persons in the quiet enjoyment of his or their property, by repeated or continuous barking, howling, whining, or making other sounds common to their species, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and such disturbance shall be deemed to constitute the maintenance of a nuisance. Provided, however, that the prohibitions contained in this Section shall not apply to a licensed kennel owner or hospital or other place in which animals, birds or fowl are kept pursuant to a license or permit issued by governmental agencies.
(’65 Code, § 5-7) (Ord. No. CS-415 § 5-17; Ord. No. CS-24 § 2(d))
Los Angeles County Code § 13.45.010 Loud, unnecessary and unusual noise
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and in addition thereto, it shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary, and unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area. The standard which may be considered in determining whether a violation of the provisions of this section exists may include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. The level of noise;
B. Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual;
C. Whether the origin of the noise is natural or unnatural;
D. The level and intensity of any background noise;
E. The proximity of the noise to residential sleeping facilities;
F. The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise emanates;
G. The density of the inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates;
H. The time of the day or night the noise occurs;
I. The duration of the noise;
J. Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent, or constant; and
K. Whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity. (Ord. 2001-0075 § 1 (part), 2001.)
Los Angeles County Code § 13.45.020 Penalty
Any person violating this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or by imprisonment no more than six months, or both. The fines imposed under this chapter are as follows:
A. A fine of not more than $100.00 for a first violation;
B. A fine of not more than $200.00 for a second violation of the same provision of this ordinance within one year;
C. A fine of not more than $500.00 for each additional violation of the same provision of this ordinance within one year. (Ord. 2001-0075 § 1 (part), 2001.)
Los Angeles County Code § 10.40.065 Public nuisance
A. Any animal (or animals) which molests passersby or passing vehicles, attacks other animals, trespasses on school grounds, is repeatedly at large, damages and or trespasses on private or public property, barks, whines or howls in a continuous or untimely fashion, shall be considered a public nuisance.
B. Every person who maintains, permits or allows a public nuisance to exist upon his or her property or premises, and every person occupying or leasing the property or premises of another and who maintains, permits or allows a public nuisance as described above to exist thereon, after reasonable notice in writing from the department of animal care and control has been served upon such person to cease such nuisance, is guilty of a misdemeanor. The existence of such nuisance for each and every day after the service of such notice shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense. (Ord. 2000-0075 § 54, 2000: Ord. 85-0204 § 24, 1985.)
California Penal Code § 373A:
Every person who maintains, permits, or allows a public nuisance to exist upon his or her property or premises, and every person occupying or leasing the property or premises of another who maintains, permits or allows a public nuisance to exist thereon, after reasonable notice in writing from a health officer or district attorney or city attorney or prosecuting attorney to remove, discontinue or abate the same has been served upon such person, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished accordingly; and the existence of such nuisance for each and every day after the service of such notice shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense, and it is hereby made the duty of the district attorney, or the city attorney of any city the charter of which imposes the duty upon the city attorney to prosecute state misdemeanors, to prosecute all persons guilty of violating this section by continuous prosecutions until the nuisance is abated and removed.
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