Hendersonville, TN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Hendersonville's noisy-pet rule, adopted by Ordinance 1979-2 in February 1979, sits in the Title 10, Chapter 2 ordinance covering 'Pets,' defined at § 10-201(1) as 'all members of the dog and cat families.' Enforcement authority is broad: § 10-201(6) defines 'Officer' to include any employee of the City of Hendersonville, any elected city official, and employees of any animal control agency 'such as Sumner County Animal Control Department.' Under § 10-214, any officer may issue a complaint requiring the owner to appear in city court, and a complaint can issue whether or not the dog has been impounded. Warrants for a violation are issued by the City Judge or City Court Clerk under § 10-213.

A person who receives a complaint doesn't have to appear in court: § 10-214(3) lets an owner admit guilt in writing and pay a set fine, fifteen dollars for a first offense or twenty-five dollars for a second, without a hearing, though the City Judge can refuse that plea and issue a warrant instead under § 10-214(4). If the case goes to conviction, § 10-217 caps the fine at fifty dollars, and any fine or cost still unpaid thirty days after judgment is collected the same way a General Sessions Court judgment is collected, including garnishment of wages and attachment of bank accounts.