New animal noise control rules
Published on October 20, 2016
Barking dogs are a common cause of neighborhood complaints. Residents voted last election to set new limits on the amount of noise that is acceptable for dogs or other noisy animals to make. The new noise limits will go into effect on December 1st.
Noise limits
Noise guidelines are based on the total amount of animal noise over certain time periods. If the following noise levels are exceeded, the owner will be issued a fine of $150 for the first offense. Any subsequent offenses may result in additional fines or seizure.
Permitted animal noise levels
| Time |
Day |
Noise limit |
|
7am to 10pm
|
Every day
|
No more than ten minutes of animal noise in any hour
|
|
10pm to 7am
|
Every day
|
No more than three minutes animal noise in any half-hour
|
Handling animal noise complaints
If a dog or any other pet is annoying you, approach the pet's owner as soon as the problem arises and state your case clearly and politely. If, for example, a dog barks from loneliness or boredom when the owners are away from home, they might not realize their dog is causing a nuisance. Do not threaten the pet owner directly.
If bringing the issue to the attention of the pet owner does not result in a positive resolution, keep track of the offenses for several days and submit your complaint online here.