Auburn, AL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Auburn addresses chronic animal noise through its animal-control provisions rather than a decibel rule. Under City Code Section 4-19(a), no owner is allowed to permit a dog to habitually bark or yelp in such a loud and frequent manner as to annoy and disturb the public in the vicinity. The key words are 'habitually' and 'loud and frequent' an occasional bark is not a violation, but persistent, ongoing barking that disturbs neighbors can be. The Auburn Police Department's Animal Control Division handles these complaints and provides a Barking Dog Complaint Packet for residents who wish to document the problem; complaints generally require affected neighbors to identify the dog and describe the disturbance. Residents can reach Animal Control at 334-501-3090, with after-hours matters routed to Public Safety Non-Emergency at 334-501-3100. Beyond the specific animal ordinance, persistent noise that disturbs others can also be addressed under Alabama's state disorderly-conduct 'unreasonable noise' standard. Auburn's approach emphasizes documentation and owner notification before escalating to a citation, so neighbors are usually asked to log the dates, times, and duration of the barking.