Different people have different tolerance levels for barking. What one person considers a nuisance may not disturb someone else. Council has therefore defined nuisance barking in its Local Laws as:
- Barking noise that disrupts or inhibits an activity ordinarily carried out on adjoining or nearby residential premises, such as holding a conversation or sleeping.
Under the Local Laws, the keeper of a dog must ensure that the dog does not cause an unreasonable nuisance. Some of the criteria that Council will consider when deciding whether a nuisance is unreasonable include:
- The number and location of complaints received
- The duration of the noise
Some examples of common complaints received by Council that are not considered an unreasonable noise nuisance are:
- Territorial barking, for example barking at someone walking past the property
- Dogs barking at the postie
- Dogs barking at other dogs being walked
We can only take action once it is established a barking noise is unreasonable.
