Excessive Dog Barking

Before reporting a dog that barks loudly and frequently, first try to contact the dog's owner. If the problem is not resolved contact the Police Department at 650-286-3300. The Police Department will try to mediate the issue. If mediation does not work, you can request a Barking Dog Petition form. A minimum of three residences have to sign the petition and a list of incidents should be attached to show the ongoing issue. The petition is submitted to the FCPD for investigation and forwarding to the City Attorney.

General Information on Barking Dogs

Barking dogs bring almost daily complaints to the Foster City Police Department, particularly in warm weather when windows are open. In addition to being against the law, it is extremely inconsiderate to your neighbors by allowing your dog or dogs to bark when unnecessary. If your dog is barking, please investigate the cause. What can I do about a barking dog...? Before reporting a dog that barks loudly and frequently, first try to contact the dog's owner. Many times the owner is unaware the dog is causing a problem for neighbors and is willing to take immediate action to correct the problem. If the problem is not resolved, contact the Police Department at 286-3300.The Police Department will investigate all barking dog complaints and will try to contact the owner of the dog. We will ask for your name and a call back number for our records, or in case we need additional information from you.

The dog is barking again. Now what? There are a few aggravated cases where the problem continues. We ask that you call again, and we will respond back there. Each time, we keep a record of the complaints. If the problem continues, and we can document repeated calls over a period of time.

Owners of barking dogs may be in violation of the City's noise ordinance. This is a misdemeanor crime, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year in jail.