My neighbor’s dog barks all night. What can I do about it? See Fresno rules for pets
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Neighborhood Nuisances in Fresno
A multi-part series by The Fresno Bee
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Can I be fined for throwing a loud party in Fresno? See city rules about noise
My neighbor’s dog barks all night. What can I do about it? See Fresno rules for pets
Can my neighbor throw garbage in my can? Toss trash in the street? See Fresno’s rules
Can I report my neighbor for setting off fireworks in Fresno? What to know about city rules
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a multi-part series about neighborhood nuisances in the Fresno area.
With pet-friendly parks, veterinary services and other amenities, Fresno is a popular place for pet owners.
Sometimes, however, pets don’t always behave.
Can you report your neighbor for having a noisy dog that barks all night? What should you do if Fido poops on your lawn?
The Fresno Bee reached out to the city of Fresno to discover the answers.
Here’s what we found out:
Can I report my neighbor for having a barking dog?
“Owners allowing their dogs to bark excessively are committing a nuisance and noise violation,” the city of Fresno said on its website.
“These violations can be prosecuted as an infraction in the Fresno County Superior Court,” the city said in a 2022 memo about barking dogs.
Fresno Municipal Code Section 9-2701 prohibits excessive barking and other nuisance behavior.
“Any dog which by habitual and continual barking, howling, or whining shall disturb the peace and comfort of any neighborhood or interfere with the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property by any person,” the code says.
According to the regulations, you’re not allowed to keep any “unconfined dog which habitually attacks, or barks at passing pedestrians, vehicles or other users of the public sidewalks, streets and highways.”
You can’t keep a “vicious dog” in the city of Fresno unless it’s “safely secured,” according to the municipal code.
If a dog leaves its owner’s property, it has to be on a leash and kept under control.
“An owner is responsible for any damage or injury caused by the owner’s dog,” the city said.
How do I report a nuisance dog?
Fresno Code Enforcement “often relies on the assistance of neighbors” to keep track of nuisance dogs, Roberson said.
if you want to report a loose or vicious, don’t call 911 unless it’s an emergency, the city said.
Instead, the city recommends calling or texting Fresno Humane Animal Services at 559-600-7387.
“Please include a specific location, a brief description of the issue, your contact information and photos of the animal(s),” the agency said on its website.
What are the penalties for noisy or aggressive dogs in Fresno?
“Violations related to loose or aggressive dogs are handled by the Fresno Animal Center, and may result in citations or the confiscation of the animal,” Roberson said.
Fines range from $250 for a first violation to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for third and subsequent violations, Roberson said.
“If your dog bites, attacks or causes injury to any human being or other animal, you will be fined between $100 and $500,” personal injury law firm Goldberg & Loren said on its website.
You’ll also be banned from “owning, possessing or being in charge of any animal of the same species as the one involved in the incident for three years from the date of the conviction,” the law firm said.
Can my neighbor’s dog poop on my lawn?
Allowing pet waste to accumulate on your property or someone else’s is considered a nuisance under Fresno’s municipal code.
“No person shall keep or maintain, any dog which habitually commits a nuisance upon the property of any other person,” the code says.
If your dog goes to the bathroom, you’re required to “remove the dog’s feces immediately from public property or private property” that doesn’t belong to you, according to Fresno Municipal Code, and dispose of it in “a sanitary manner.”
Exceptions are made for visually-impaired people with guide dogs.
Not cleaning up after your pet is considered an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $100, according to legal website eLaws.
What else can I do to deal with nuisance pets?
The city suggests talking with your neighbor and working with them to find a solution to the problem.
Free mediation services are offered by the Better Business Bureau.
Are there limits to the kind or number of pets I can have?
In Fresno County, people living in most residential zoning districts can have dogs and cats as domestic pets, according to the Fresno County Department of Public Works and Planning Development Services Division.
You’re limited to three or fewer pets 4 months of age or older, the county said.
Livestock such as horses, cows and pigs are only allowed in agriculture zone districts, although chickens are allowed in some residential areas.
Pets allowed in Clovis include dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, mice and birds including parrots, cockatoos, lorikeets and toucans, according to its municipal code.
Turtles, lizards, fishes and snakes are also permitted.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
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