Allentown, PA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Allentown, PA, also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances, define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Allentown Art. 710.03(C)(6)
- Continuous threshold
- 10 minutes
- Intermittent threshold
- One-half hour (30 minutes) or more
- Time
- Any time of day or night
- Defense
- Trespass, threatened trespass, or provocation
Summary
Article 710.03(C)(6) makes it a noise disturbance to own or harbor any animal or bird that barks, bays, cries, or squawks continuously for 10 minutes, or intermittently for one-half hour or more, to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night, with a defense for trespass or provocation.
(6) Animals and birds. Owning, possessing, harboring or controlling any animal or bird which barks, bays, cries, squawks or makes any other noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or makes such noise intermittently for 1/2 hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of the day or night regardless of whether the animal or bird is physically situated in or upon private property; provided, however, that at the time the animal or bird is making such noise no person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal or bird is situated or for any other legitimate cause which teased or provoked the animal or bird.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4995055; v49 updated 2026-06-26; through 06-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
03(C)(6) of the Noise Control ordinance (Chapter 400). ' Enforcement is shared between the Bureau of Health and the Department of Police. section 5503, 'unreasonable noise').
Violations & Fines
$100 violation ticket per offense (Article 710.99(A)(7)); summary conviction fine $100 to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days (710.99(A)(9)). Each day the barking continues may be a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must a dog bark to violate the ordinance?
Is it a defense that someone provoked the dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allentown
Compare Allentown to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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