Cleveland County, NC Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Cleveland County, NC, 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
- Governing section
- Code § 3-33
- Enforcing agency
- Cleveland County Animal Services
- First repeat fine
- $100
- Second+ repeat fine
- $200
- Appeal window
- 10 days written notice
- Applies when
- animal running at large
Summary
In unincorporated Cleveland County, an owner cannot let an animal run at large so that it habitually disturbs or annoys neighbors under Code § 3-33. Animal Services investigates, issues a containment order, then imposes escalating fines once the same nuisance happens again.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit an animal to run at large so as to create a public nuisance.(b)For the purpose of this section, public nuisance includes, but is not limited to, the following:(1)Animals that habitually or repeatedly disturb, interfere with or annoy human beings while not in the mode of attack; or ... (d)Fine for violation. After a containment order notice has been issued to a person, the animal services director, upon finding evidence to support a subsequent violation of this section, including failure to abide by the containment order notice, may issue the owner or keeper a citation with costs and fines as follows: ... (2)For the first subsequent violation, a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00);(3)For the second subsequent violation, and any subsequent violation of this section, a fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00);
Full Breakdown
Cleveland County Code § 3-33 makes it unlawful for an owner to permit an animal to run at large so as to create a public nuisance, and defines nuisance to include animals that habitually or repeatedly disturb, interfere with, or annoy human beings while not in the mode of attack. That means the barking-dog complaint the ordinance actually reaches is tied to the animal being off its owner's property, not merely audible from a confined yard. When the Animal Services director's investigation supports a violation, the director issues a containment order under § 3-32 requiring specific preventive measures, such as a secure four-foot fence, before any citation is written.
A repeat violation after that order draws a $100 fine for the first subsequent offense and $200 for the second and each one after that, on top of any attorney's fees the county incurs. Female animals in estrus that create the nuisance draw a $500 fine per incident, reduced to $50 if the animal is spayed or neutered within thirty days of the notice. Every violation of § 3-33 is also a class 3 misdemeanor under § 3-26, carrying up to a $500 fine, and each day a nuisance continues is a separate offense under § 3-27.
The owner can appeal a containment order or civil penalty in writing within ten days under §§ 3-30 and 3-32(e), with review by a hearing officer and further review in superior court by certiorari.
Violations & Fines
Animal Services investigates nuisance complaints, then issues a written containment order under § 3-32. A further nuisance violation brings a $100 citation the first time and $200 for each one after, plus possible criminal misdemeanor prosecution under § 3-26 with fines up to $500. Owners have ten days to appeal any order or penalty to a hearing officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cleveland County have a noise ordinance for barking dogs?
What happens after a containment order is issued for a nuisance animal?
Can I appeal a Cleveland County containment order or fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland County
Compare Cleveland County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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