Franklin Township, PA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Chapter 2, Part 1 of the Franklin Township Code, adopted by Ordinance 2000-01 on March 9, 2000, makes animal and bird noise a Township-wide offense rather than a private nuisance claim. Section 2-102 bars any person or entity from owning, possessing, harboring or controlling an animal or bird that makes noise continuously or incessantly for 10 minutes, or intermittently for half an hour or more, to the disturbance of any person, at any time of day or night. The rule applies whether the animal sits on private or public property, so a dog confined to its own owner's yard is still covered.

, is not a violation, which shields ordinary livestock and poultry sounds on working farms. The ordinance also will not apply if a trespasser on the property provoked the animal, or if some other legitimate cause justifiably provoked the noise. Section 2-105 designates the Zoning Officer and/or Code Enforcement Officer as the enforcement officer, who makes the initial determination that a violation occurred and serves notice on the owner or keeper. Under Section 2-104, prosecution runs through a Magisterial District Judge using the summary-offense procedure of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Township Solicitor can carry the case forward without needing the District Attorney's consent.

A conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs; if the fine and costs go unpaid, the owner can be jailed for up to 90 days. Each day the noise continues, or each separate Part 1 section violated, counts as its own offense, so repeat or ongoing barking can multiply the exposure quickly.