Gretna, LA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Gretna, LA, 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
- Governing section
- § 8-51(a)(2), Animal noise
- Nuisance threshold
- 10+ consecutive or 30+ intermittent minutes
- Watchdog exemption
- Only if quieted promptly, never left unattended
- Evidence radius
- Within 150 feet, or two households anywhere
- Fine schedule
- $100 / $200 / $500 under § 8-53(f)
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 4984, July 12, 2023
Summary
In the City of Gretna, an animal that barks, bays, cries or howls continuously for ten or more consecutive minutes, or intermittently for thirty or more minutes, so as to disturb the peace is a public nuisance under Code section 8-51(a)(2). Watchdogs are exempt only if the keeper acts promptly to quiet them and never leaves them unattended while barking.
(2)Animal noise.a.The ownership, custody, or control of an animal that barks, bays, cries, howls, or makes any other noise so continuously or incessantly as to disturb the peace or quiet of any person for a period of ten or more consecutive minutes or intermittent noise for a period of 30 or more minutes is prohibited.b.Any person who keeps or permits to remain on any premises any animal as defined in subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a violation of this division, provided that during the time that the animal is making such a noise, no person or other animal is trespassing or threatening to trespass, or no person is teasing or provoking the animal.c.This section shall not be construed to prohibit the ownership or keeping of a watchdog, provided that the keeper takes immediate steps to quiet such dog whenever it barks, and provided that such keeper never leaves such dog unattended on the premises in a place where its barking for a period of ten or more consecutive minutes or intermittent noise for a period of 30 or more minutes.
Full Breakdown
Section 8-51(a)(2), added by Ordinance No. 4984 on July 12, 2023, defines the barking-dog nuisance with the same ten-minute continuous or thirty-minute intermittent threshold used for other animal noise. The exemption for a keeper's own watchdog only holds if the keeper takes immediate steps to quiet it whenever it barks and never leaves it unattended while barking for those same periods; a person teasing or provoking the animal, or a trespasser triggering the noise, also defeats a complaint. A resident within 150 feet of the noise, or any two residents of different households anywhere, may report the disturbance to an animal control officer or other law enforcement officer, and can support the complaint with video or audio recordings.
Under Section 8-53, a first verified complaint draws a citation; a second complaint against the same animal within twelve months brings a second citation without further warning; a third draws a violation notice and a hearing before the Gretna Mayor's Court instead of a citation. 00 for a third or later offense within twelve months, and a person who requests and loses a hearing also bears its cost. The Gretna City Attorney may dismiss a complaint that lacks physical evidence or an officer's personal observation.
Violations & Fines
A verified barking-dog nuisance draws escalating fines under Section 8-53(f): $100.00 for a first offense, $200.00 for a second, and $500.00 for a third or subsequent offense within twelve months. A third or later violation goes to a hearing before the Gretna Mayor's Court, with hearing costs charged to the owner if the complaint is upheld.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must a dog bark before it violates Gretna's noise rule?
Is my watchdog exempt from Gretna's barking nuisance rule?
How do I report a barking dog nuisance in Gretna?
What happens after a third barking complaint against the same dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gretna
Compare Gretna to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
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