Hollywood, FL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Hollywood, FL, 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
- Standard
- Excessive barking disturbing an inhabitant's peace
- Violation type
- Civil infraction, not criminal
- First offense penalty
- $50 civil penalty
- Repeat offense penalty
- $100, then $200 each after
- Unpaid citation risk
- Court judgment up to $500
Summary
Hollywood makes it unlawful to keep a dog that howls, yelps or barks excessively enough to disturb the sleep, peace or quietude of any inhabitant, under § 92.17. It's a civil infraction, not a criminal charge, with penalties starting at $50 for a first offense and rising to $200 for each additional violation within a year.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or anyone having charge, control or custody to keep any dog within the corporate limits of the city which howls, yelps or barks excessively so as to disturb the sleep, peace or quietude of any inhabitant of this city.
Full Breakdown
17, Barking Dogs, applies to any owner or person having charge, control or custody of a dog within the city's corporate limits. The standard is behavioral, not decibel-based: a dog violates the section if it howls, yelps or barks excessively so as to disturb the sleep, peace or quietude of any inhabitant of the city. Because the trigger is disturbance to an inhabitant rather than a measured noise level, enforcement typically starts from a resident complaint rather than a sound-meter reading, and the ordinance traces back to a 1967 amendment of the original 1958-era animal code.
17 violation as a civil infraction rather than a criminal offense, and each violation during a one-year period is a separate offense for penalty purposes. The civil penalty schedule escalates: $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second violation, and $200 for each additional violation after that. If the dog owner fails to pay the applicable civil penalty within the allowed time, or fails to appear in court to contest the citation, they are deemed to have waived the right to contest it, and a court may enter judgment against them for an amount not to exceed $500.
The section sits within Chapter 92's Dogs subchapter alongside rabies vaccination and running-at-large rules, giving Code Enforcement or Animal Control a separate tool specifically for chronic noise complaints rather than routine at-large or leash violations.
Violations & Fines
A § 92.17 barking-dog violation is a civil infraction under § 92.99(G): $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second, and $200 for each additional violation within a one-year period. Failing to pay or contest a citation in time waives the right to challenge it and exposes the owner to a court judgment of up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a barking dog violation in Hollywood, FL?
Is a barking dog complaint a criminal charge in Hollywood?
What happens if I don't pay a Hollywood barking dog citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hollywood
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hollywood to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle barking dogs.