Collierville, TN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Collierville, TN, 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
- Who is liable
- The owner who keeps, harbors or permits a noisy dog on the premises
- Noise standard
- Continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances
- Measure
- Unreasonable annoyance to a neighbor of normal sensitivity
- Evidence
- Videotapes, audio tapes, bark logs, Animal Control Officer documentation
- Fine
- Not more than $50 or state maximum, whichever is greater, per day
Summary
The Town of Collierville makes it unlawful for an owner to keep, harbor or permit any noisy dog on the premises. A noisy dog is one whose continued and repeated howling, barking or whining causes unreasonable annoyance to a neighbor of normal sensitivity. Bark logs and recordings count as evidence.
(A) It shall be unlawful for an owner to keep, harbor or permit to remain on or about the premises of such owner any noisy dog. (B) For purposes of this section, a noisy dog is one that, by continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances causes unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to any neighbor of normal sensitivity or otherwise disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood. (C) Evidence of violation of this section includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Videotapes, audio tapes, and/or written documentation (bark logs) of nuisance dog noise; and/or (2) Dates, times and duration of nuisance dog noise as documented by an Animal Control Officer on the scene. (D) Enforcement of this section shall be in accordance with § 94.99.
Full Breakdown
Section 94.25 of the Collierville Code of Ordinances, amended by Ord. 2015-13 on 9-28-15, is the barking dog provision. Subsection (A) puts the duty on the owner: it is unlawful to keep, harbor or permit to remain on or about the premises any noisy dog. Subsection (B) defines the standard. A noisy dog is one that, by continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances, causes unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to any neighbor of normal sensitivity, or otherwise disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood. The section prints no decibel limit, no quiet hours and no minute count, so the test is continued and repeated noise judged against a neighbor of normal sensitivity.
Subsection (C) lists what counts as evidence of a violation, and the list is not exclusive. It includes videotapes, audio tapes, and written documentation, called bark logs, of nuisance dog noise, and the dates, times and duration of nuisance dog noise as documented by an Animal Control Officer on the scene. A neighbor who wants the Town to act therefore needs a record showing when the noise happened and for how long, while an officer's own on-scene documentation of dates, times and duration is enough without a neighbor log.
Subsection (D) sends enforcement through § 94.99. Animals tied to the same chapter can also be dealt with in other ways: § 94.26(A) lets a designated animal services employee or law enforcement officer of the Town impound any animal that is otherwise permitted by its owner to violate the provisions of Chapter 94. Collierville Animal Services holds an impounded animal with a known owner or identification at least five working days, and the owner regains the animal by complying with the vaccination and licensing provisions and paying the Town's fees. Birds are handled separately by § 94.07, which prohibits keeping chickens, ducks, geese, fowl or other birds whose loud and frequent quacking, crowing or cackling disturbs the peace or annoys any citizen.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 94.25 is punished under § 94.99(A): a fine of not more than $50 or the maximum amount permitted by state law, whichever is greater, for each offense, and a separate offense is deemed committed for each day of violation. A dog that keeps barking day after day can therefore draw a separate charge for each day. Animal services or law enforcement can also impound an animal its owner permits to violate Chapter 94.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a noisy dog in Collierville?
What evidence do I need to report a barking dog?
Who is responsible if a dog keeps barking?
Are noisy chickens or ducks covered by the same section?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Collierville
Compare Collierville to another location·View the Tennessee noise ordinances overview
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle barking dogs.