Boone County, KY Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Chapter 91 of the Boone County Code of Ordinances, "Animals and Fowl," governs unincorporated Boone County only; it does not reach inside Florence, Union or Walton, which enforce their own municipal animal codes. Section 91.01 defines PUBLIC NUISANCE to include any animal that "makes noise in an excessive, continuous or untimely manner" or otherwise "disturbs the peace, comfort or health of persons in any other manner." Section 91.20(D) then makes it unlawful to "own or possess an animal that conducts itself in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance," the clause that covers a dog barking continuously or at odd hours.

Boone County Animal Services, led by a Director appointed by the Judge/Executive and approved by the Fiscal Court, investigates complaints, and Animal Control Officers, who hold peace-officer authority for enforcement purposes under § 91.15, may issue a misdemeanor notice giving the owner up to seven days to correct the nuisance before it converts into a uniform citation returnable in Boone County District Court, or may cite serious cases immediately. Because barking is charged as a public-nuisance violation rather than under a stand-alone noise ordinance, there is no decibel meter or fixed quiet-hours schedule; the standard is whether the noise is excessive, continuous or untimely, and each day it continues can count as a separate Class A misdemeanor offense under § 91.99(A).