7 Things Missourians Can Legally Do When a Neighbor’s Dog Won’t Stop Barking

A neighbor’s dog barking at 2 a.m. can wear down even the most patient person.

Missourians may have more options than they think, though the first step depends on where you live.

Here’s what you can do, and where to start.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Noise rules and complaint steps vary by city and county and are subject to change, so confirm the current requirements with your city or county animal control office.

1. Kansas City’s Signed Complaint

Kansas City asks you to call 311 or use the myKCMO app to report a barking dog.

The intake questions include whether you’re a neighbor within 100 yards and whether you’ll sign a complaint.

The city’s page tells you to try talking to the dog’s owner first.

If you file, a notice goes to the dog’s owner, and you get a copy.

After 7 days of continued barking, contact the office with your documentation.

The complaint is then filed as a criminal charge in Municipal Court.

2. Springfield’s Daytime and Late-Night Calls

In Springfield, the hour decides who takes your barking dog complaint, according to a 2021 KY3 report.

Contact Animal Control for daytime barking and the police department for late-night barking.

Late at night is generally considered after 11 p.m.

City Code 78-113 covers frequent or long-continued animal noise that disturbs the comfort or repose of people nearby.

Officials weigh the time of day, how long the noise lasts and whether an officer saw it happen.

Springfield’s prosecutor’s office also considers any recording, other witnesses and noise observable inside your home.

Keep a journal with the date, time and description of each violation.

3. Independence’s Letter Option

You can ask Independence to send a letter to a barking dog’s owner before anything formal starts.

You call the Barking Dog line or fill out an online complaint through the IndepNow app.

You can skip the letter and go straight to the formal complaint.

If the barking continues, you can sign a formal complaint, and you and the dog owner both appear in court.

Name the dates and times the dog was a nuisance.

Under City Code Section 3.02.023, excessive barking may be considered a nuisance, the page says.

4. St. Charles County’s Barking Report

Keeping a habitually barking dog breaks Section 205.060 of St. Charles County’s animal code.

You report one to county animal officials during business hours and to the St. Charles County Police Department after hours.

The code’s definition starts at 30 minutes of incessant noise in any 24-hour period.

It excludes barking caused by a brief disturbance nearby, a trespasser or a dog that’s being teased or provoked.

Before investigating, the authority that takes your complaint must record your name, address and phone number.

5. Blue Springs’ Anonymous First Call

In Blue Springs, you report a barking dog by calling Animal Control.

For after-hours issues, call the non-emergency police line.

Your first report sends the owner a formal letter about an anonymous complaint, followed by a 30-day grace period.

If the barking continues, you can file another complaint, and an Animal Control Officer is sent to the owner’s address.

After the second 30-day grace period, you’re encouraged to file a formal complaint against the owner.

The page says Animal Control Officers can’t issue a ticket for barking dogs, but if you sign a formal complaint, an officer may issue one on your behalf.

If you decline to file a formal complaint, you can’t file another complaint on that address for 90 days.

6. Cole County's Peace Disturbance Filing

For a dog that barks constantly, Cole County's FAQ page says to talk to your neighbor first.

The owner may not be aware the barking is a problem.

Cole County Sheriff's Department deputies handle barking dog complaints.

If the barking becomes excessive, a peace disturbance may be filed against the owner.

Peace disturbance is a state offense under Section 574.010, which covers unreasonably and knowingly disturbing another person with loud noise.

You have to be willing to appear and testify in court as a victim.

If you aren't, the county is unable to pursue the complaint.

7. Private Nuisance Lawsuits

You can also bring a private nuisance lawsuit when a neighbor's dog keeps barking.

The two appeals cases below both involved kennels, not a single pet.

In 1997, a Missouri appeals court decided Tichenor v. Vore, where neighbors owning five separate properties sued to stop a kennel that generally held about sixteen barking dogs.

The court affirmed an injunction against the kennel, and the neighbors' evidence included audio and video recordings.

A 1968 appeals ruling upheld a ban on a Fredericktown dog-breeding kennel in a residential backyard, finding the barking seriously and unreasonably interfered with the neighbors' enjoyment of their homes.

A 1979 Missouri Law Review article says you need an interest in the land, such as ownership, an easement or a tenancy.

It also covers injunctions and damages as remedies.

If you're after money, the Missouri courts' small claims page says the limit is $5,000 and that small claims may only involve claims for money.

Fines by City

Where you live decides what a neighbor's barking dog can cost its owner in fines.

If you file in Kansas City, a guilty owner may be fined between $75 and $500.

Springfield's fines run from $0 to $1,000 under City Code 1-7, according to the 2021 KY3 report.

Springfield's prosecutor's office said it doesn't seek jail time for an animal noise violation.