Fort Smith, AR Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Between the daytime/evening hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., it shall be unlawful for any person to keep on his or her premises or under his or her control any dog which by loud and frequent barking or howling shall disturb the peace and quiet of any other person who may reside or operate a business within reasonable proximity of a place where such dog is kept.(1)Upon receiving three or more complaints of dogs barking or howling during daytime/evening hours within a 90-day period, with at least two being from separate households or businesses, the animal's owner or keeper may be cited for violation of this section.(2)Upon receiving a complaint of a dog barking or howling during the daytime/evening hours, combined with direct observation/verification by the animal control warden (or a police officer) of such dog barking for more than 20 minutes, the animal's owner or keeper may be cited for violation of this section.(b)Between the nighttime hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., it shall be unlawful for any person to keep on his or her premises or under his or her control any dog which by loud and frequent barking or howling shall disturb the peace and quiet of any other person residing or operating a business within reasonable proximity of a place where such dog is kept. Upon observation of such disturbance of the peace by the animal control warden (or a police officer) of such dog barking or howling, the animal's owner or keeper may be cited for violation of this section.