In Mississauga, barking falls under the City’s Noise Control By-law 0360-1979. Since the City updated the by-law in 2023, persistent barking, calling or whining by a pet is prohibited in residential areas from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., every day of the week. A separate rule bans any “persistent sound” likely to disturb a reasonable person at any hour, and the by-law defines that as noise heard for ten minutes straight, or on and off over at least an hour. Neighbours report barking through 311, and a conviction carries a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum of $100,000.
This is the seventh post in our series on the barking dog bylaw in each major city we serve. Every post explains what the local bylaw actually says, how a complaint works step by step, what it can cost, and how to fix the barking at home so it never gets that far. We check every fact against the city’s own bylaws and reports, and we link our sources so you can check them too. So far we have covered Hamilton, Calgary, Toronto, St. Catharines, Edmonton and Brampton. Next up is Mississauga.
Mississauga stands out in this series because the by-law spells out the hours. Most cities ban barking “at any time” and leave the details to an officer. Mississauga tells owners exactly when barking becomes an offence, and that makes the evening and early morning the hours that matter most.
What the Mississauga bylaw actually says
The Noise Control By-law has been on the books since 1979, and Council modernized it after a long public review that ended in 2023. Two parts of it apply to dogs.
The barking hours. Schedule 2 lists noises that are not allowed during set periods in residential areas. Persistent barking, calling or whining by a domestic pet is one of them, and the prohibited period is 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. on every day of the week. The City’s noise page puts it the other way round: the sound of animals and pets barking, whining or calling is permitted from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Before 2023, the rule said “at any time.” City staff told Council that this created unrealistic expectations, because no owner can stop a dog from ever barking, and barking is how dogs communicate. Staff first suggested quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Many residents said 7 a.m. was too early, so Council adopted 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. instead, which matches the hours for amplified music and lawn mowers.
The persistent sound rule. Section 3.1 says no person shall emit or cause or permit “persistent sound” that is likely to disturb a reasonable person in the City. The by-law defines persistent sound as “a noise that is continuously heard for a period of at least ten consecutive minutes or intermittently over a period of at least one hour.” This rule has no time window. A dog that barks on and off for an hour in the middle of the afternoon can still break the by-law.
Notice the words “cause or permit.” The rule does not only cover the dog’s legal owner. If you rent, or if you are minding a friend’s dog for a few weeks, you can still be the person who permits the noise.
Who handles a barking complaint
Barking goes through 311. The City’s 311 page lists barking dogs among the animal issues residents can report, and noise complaints can also go in through the City’s online service request. The complaint then goes to the City’s enforcement staff, who handle the Noise Control By-law.
Peel Regional Police handle a different kind of noise: domestic disputes, yelling and moving vehicles. A barking dog is a by-law matter, not a police call.
How a barking complaint works in Mississauga
1. The neighbour reports the barking. The neighbour calls 311 or files a noise report online. The City asks people to report noise that is excessive, persistent and recurring.
2. The City sets a priority. Under the Priority Response Model the City introduced with the 2023 update, staff review each report based on how likely the noise is to happen again and how much it affects residents. The priority decides whether an Enforcement Officer visits the property and how quickly.
3. One complaint usually means a letter. In the model staff presented to Council, a single complaint about a barking dog is the lowest priority. It does not need an officer on site, and the City may send a letter to the dog owner.
4. More complaints mean an officer visit. When several residents complain about the same dog, the case moves up to a priority that calls for an on-site investigation by an Enforcement Officer within five business days. The City notes that a case can move through all the priority levels over time as the number of complaints and complainants grows.
5. Court. If the barking continues, the City can lay a charge under the Provincial Offences Act. City staff have noted that when a noise case goes to legal action, the person who complained is often the witness.
What it can cost
| Barking in the 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. window, or persistent sound at any hour | Minimum fine of $500 and maximum of $100,000 on conviction (s. 9) |
| Continuing offence | Minimum $500 and maximum $10,000 for each day or part of a day the offence continues, with no cap on the total |
| Time | Letters, an officer visit and court dates you have to attend |
A fine is rarely where a barking problem starts. It usually starts with weeks of tension with the people next door, a letter from the City and an officer at your door.
How common are barking complaints in Mississauga?
Common enough to rank near the top. In the noise review report to Council, staff said the City received 1,451 noise complaints in 2019. Barking dogs accounted for 363 of them, second only to amplified sound with 463. Staff also noted that complaint numbers likely understate the problem, because many residents did not know the noise rules.
Two rules in Mississauga’s Animal Care and Control By-law 0098-2004 also matter for barking. A home can keep no more than four animals in total, and a multi-dog home is often the one the whole street hears, because one dog sets off the others. The by-law also says no animal may stay outdoors during extreme weather, apart from brief walks or exercise, unless it has an enclosure that protects it from the elements. A dog left out in the cold has one more reason to bark at the door.
If you are the neighbour
A calm conversation usually works faster than a formal complaint. Most owners have no idea their dog barks while they are out, so a friendly heads-up often solves the problem in a day. Give the owner specific details: what time the barking starts, how long it lasts and which days it happens. Because Mississauga’s rules depend on the clock, a short written note of dates and times also helps if you decide to report it later.
Before you knock, have a look at our free Talking to a Neighbour About Barking guide (PDF). It shows you how to start with empathy, choose a calm moment and keep the tone friendly, so the conversation sounds like a heads-up rather than a complaint. It also lists what not to do, like leaving angry notes or banging on shared walls, and what to do if you rent and need to involve the building manager. In a city of condos, townhouses and semis, you will likely share a wall or a fence with this neighbour for years, so a good first conversation is worth the effort.
If you are the owner: how to actually stop it
Hearing that a neighbour has complained is stressful, but it also tells you something useful: your dog is unsettled at certain times. Barking is communication, and the fix depends on what your dog is trying to say.
Find out when it happens. Set up a phone or security camera for a few days. Barking that starts within minutes of you leaving points to separation stress. Our guide to managing separation anxiety covers gradual practice and a calmer routine at home. Barking at every passer-by, delivery or dog on the sidewalk is your dog guarding the territory. Barking at the back door is often boredom or wanting in.
Watch the evening and early morning. In Mississauga, those are the hours the by-law targets. A dog that barks at the last walk-by of the night or at the first garbage truck of the morning needs a calmer routine at exactly those times. Our post on why dogs bark at night explains the most common causes.
Take away the job. A dog that watches the street from the front window all day has appointed itself head of security. Our advice on barking at strangers and noises explains how to change that habit. Close the blinds, block the lookout spot or keep your dog in a quieter room while you are out.
Do not leave a barker outside alone. A dog alone in the backyard or on a balcony hears every car, cat and neighbour, with nobody there to redirect it.
Meet the need before you leave. A proper walk and some mental work before a long absence makes a real difference for young and high-energy dogs, especially now that the clocks have gone back and evening walks get shorter.
Be the one in charge when you are home. Dogs that bark to warn you need to learn that you have heard them and you are handling it. Yelling back just sounds like you are barking too. Calm, consistent leadership in the moment is what changes the habit, and it is exactly what we teach in your home.
For more on specific types of barking, see our guides to why dogs bark and how to stop it, barking at the doorbell, separation anxiety and leaving your dog home alone.
Barking help in Mississauga
We solve barking problems where they happen, which is in your home. Bark Busters trainers come to you, see the window, the yard and the triggers your dog reacts to, and show the whole family how to respond so your dog gets one consistent message.
Two Bark Busters trainers cover Mississauga. Wil Lawson offers in-home dog training across Mississauga, Burlington, Oakville and Milton. Call 416-843-6445 or visit our Mississauga, Burlington and Oakville dog training page. Liza Fournier covers northeast Mississauga, including Malton, along with Brampton. Call 647-321-9964 or visit our Brampton dog training page. Not sure which trainer covers your street? Use find a trainer and enter your postal code. If you live in Burlington, Oakville or Milton, your own town’s noise rules apply instead of Mississauga’s.
Every Bark Busters program includes our Life Of Dog Support Guarantee, so your trainer stays with you and your dog for life, not just for the first lesson.
Frequently asked questions
Who do you call about a barking dog in Mississauga?
Call 311 or file a noise report through the City’s online service request. Peel Regional Police only handle noise such as domestic disputes, yelling and moving vehicles.
What time does a dog have to stop barking in Mississauga?
Persistent barking, calling or whining by a pet is prohibited in residential areas from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., every day. Barking during the day can still break the by-law if it counts as persistent sound: heard for at least ten minutes straight, or on and off over at least an hour.
What is the fine for a barking dog in Mississauga?
If the City lays a charge and the court convicts, the Noise Control By-law sets a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum of $100,000, plus up to $10,000 for each day a continuing offence goes on.
Will the City send an officer for one complaint?
Usually not. Under the City’s Priority Response Model, a single barking complaint is low priority and may lead to a letter to the owner. Complaints from several residents move the case up to an on-site investigation.
Bylaw details from the City of Mississauga Noise Control By-law 0360-1979 (s. 3.1, 9 and Schedule 2, with the definition of persistent sound), the City’s Report excessive noise page, the How to use 311 page, the City’s November 2023 news release on the updated Noise Control program, the Noise Control Program Review Update report to General Committee (May 23, 2023, with the July 2020 review report attached) and the Animal Care and Control By-law 0098-2004 (s. 14 and 16), checked November 2026. Rules and penalties can change, so confirm current details with the City.
Free guide: Need to raise barking with a neighbour, or hearing about it from one? Download our Talking to a Neighbour About Barking guide (PDF) for calm, practical steps to make that conversation go well. You can find more handouts on our Free Dog Training Resources page.
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