Barking dog rules in Forsyth 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.
Forsyth County Code Sec. 15-1 lists keeping any animal whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs a reasonable neighbor as a prohibited "loud, disturbing" noise at any time of day or night. Lawful farm operations are expressly protected from this rule.
Under Forsyth County Sec. 15-1(b)(3), the keeping of any animal that, by frequent or long-continued noise, frightens or disturbs the quiet comfort and repose of a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities is a violation, applicable day or night. The section is expressly preempted by state farming laws and cannot interfere with lawful farm operations, so agricultural livestock noise is treated differently. Winston-Salem incorporates this county ordinance citywide via Sec. 46-2. Persistent barking is typically handled by Forsyth County Animal Services alongside the noise ordinance. Enforcement uses the reasonable-person, plainly-audible standard, not a decibel reading.
Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, up to $500; county may pursue a civil penalty recoverable as a debt.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
forsyth-county-nc
Home backyard composting is allowed in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. There is no ordinance requiring or banning it, but a compost pile must not become a nuis...
forsyth-county-nc
Neither Winston-Salem nor Forsyth County has a specific ordinance banning or mandating artificial turf for home lawns. Its use is governed by general zoning,...
forsyth-county-nc
Since 2024 Winston-Salem lets residents replace lawns with registered Natural Landscape Areas of native plants. Turf grass must stay under eight inches, area...
forsyth-county-nc
Collecting rainwater is legal in North Carolina, and no county or city may prohibit cisterns or rain barrels used for irrigation. Forsyth County sets no ban....
forsyth-county-nc
North Carolina has no statewide homeowner watering ban, and there is no permanent year-round schedule in Winston-Salem/Forsyth. Mandatory odd/even watering d...
forsyth-county-nc
Winston-Salem defines 'rank noxious vegetation' over eight inches as a nuisance, including non-native grasses, invasive plants, poisonous plants, and untende...
See how Forsyth County's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.