American Canyon Municipal Code Ch. 8.06 Barking Dogs
American Canyon Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · American Canyon
Cite as: American Canyon Municipal Code Chapter 8.06 · Text as of 2026-10-04
8.06.010 Intent and purpose.¶
The intent and purpose of this chapter is to ensure the peace and comfort of
residents in the city by providing for penalties to owners of dogs that cause a nuisance to neighbors by habitually barking, howling, or yelping and therefore disturbing the peace and tranquility of the neighborhood.
Ord. 2002-02 § 2, 2002
8.06.020 Nuisance declared.¶
No person shall knowingly keep or harbor any dog that habitually barks, howls
or yelps and thereby causes great discomfort of the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or materially disturbs or annoys persons in the neighborhood who are of ordinary sensibilities. Such dogs are hereby declared a public nuisance.
Ord. 2002-02 § 2, 2002
8.06.030 Notice to dog owner.¶
Whenever any person complains to the police department that a dog that
habitually barks, howls, or yelps is being kept by any person in the city, the police department shall notify the owner of the dog or the resident or tenant at the property where the dog is being kept that a complaint has been received and that the person shall take whatever steps necessary to alleviate the barking, howling, or yelping.
Ord. 2002-02 § 2, 2002
8.06.040 Failure to abate nuisance.¶
(A) If the warning given to the owner of the dog or the tenant or resident at the property pursuant to Section 8.06.030 where the barking, howling, or yelping dog is being kept is ineffective, then a verified complaint of at least two citizens not from the same household may be presented to the police department, alleging that a dog that habitually barks, howls, or yelps is being kept by such person within the city. The police department shall inform the owner of the dog or the resident or tenant of the property at which the dog is being kept that such a petition has been received and shall cite the owner of the dog for a violation of this chapter as alleged in the complaint.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (A) of this section, if a police officer responds to a complaint from a resident and hears the barking, howling, or yelping, the officer shall give a warning for a first offense and shall issue a citation for any additional complaints received beyond the initial warning without the need for petition from two or more citizens.
(C) In the event the nuisance continues, citations will be issued in accordance with the provisions of the administrative citation ordinance.
Ord. 2002-02 § 2, 2002
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