Barking Dogs

Summary:

In the City of Walker, most animal-related noise complaints stem from barking dogs. However, the following ordinance applies to any animal noise either creating a noise disturbance that is audible across property lines or that is plainly audible across property lines during the city's quiet hours. Violators may be cited.

Sec. 34-131.

Animals or birds. No person shall keep any animal or bird which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall:

a. Create a noise disturbance across a property line or within a noise sensitive zone; or

b. Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, be plainly audible across a property line or within a noise sensitive zone.

Important Definitions:

Noise disturbance means any sound which:

(1) Injures or endangers the safety or health of humans or animals;

(2) Annoys or disturbs the comfort, repose or peace of a reasonable person of normal sensitivities;

(3) Endangers or injures personal or real property; or

(4) Exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels provided by section 34-132 or section 34-133.

Noise, plainly audible, means any noise which is unambiguously communicated to the listener, such as, but not limited to, understandable spoken speech or comprehensible musical rhythms or beats.

Noise sensitive zone means any area within the city which contains noise sensitive activities such as schools, libraries, churches, hospitals and nursing homes designated by resolution of the city commission and conspicuously posted as a quiet zone.