Carroll County, GA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Chapter 14, Article III of the Carroll County, Georgia Code of Ordinances applies only in the unincorporated county; Carrollton, Villa Rica, Temple, Bowdon, Whitesburg, Mount Zion and Roopville each police animal noise under their own codes. Section 14-51 defines an 'animal nuisance' to include any animal that 'causes a disturbance by excessive barking or other noisemaking,' alongside animals that damage property, create unsanitary conditions, molest people, chase vehicles, attack other animals or run uncontrolled. Section 14-53(a) folds noise directly into the general animal-control standard: owners must keep their premises free of nuisance conditions, and 'the animals themselves shall be restrained in such a fashion that they shall not disturb such persons by making noise,' whether the animal is confined by fence or tethered under the article's tethering rules.

A dog, cat or other animal that is a documented nuisance can be impounded under § 14-54 once county animal control or the sheriff's office responds to a complaint, and the Animal Control Department, sheriff's department and codes enforcement office share enforcement authority under § 14-62. Because the definition covers 'or other noisemaking' as well as barking, it reaches animals beyond dogs, but in practice the department's field response is driven by neighbor complaints rather than a decibel standard; the code sets no duration or time-of-day threshold, leaving the disturbance determination to the responding officer. Repeat or serious nuisance findings can also support a vicious-or-dangerous-animal or cruelty investigation under §§ 14-53(d) and 14-57 if the underlying conduct escalates.