Citrus County, FL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 14-42 of the Citrus County Code defines a public nuisance animal broadly, and subsection (d) singles out noise: a dog that makes excessive noise causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance or discomfort to neighbors, including continued or repeated howling, barking or whining without provocation, is a public nuisance animal, unless it is housed at a commercial animal establishment. Proof can come two ways. An animal control officer can witness the barking directly, or the complaint can be documented in at least two notarized affidavits from people living or staying in separate residences within 1,000 feet of the dog's location, describing the specific times and dates of the disturbance.

If no other residence sits within that 1,000-foot radius besides the complainant's own, one notarized affidavit is enough. Either way, an animal control officer must investigate and find probable cause before a violation is charged. Subsection (e) exempts animals on land zoned for agricultural purposes, service animals, and hunting, competition or working dogs while being trained or worked. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office and Animal Services jointly enforce Chapter 14 under Sec. 14-64, and Sec. 14-63 makes clear the article governs unincorporated Citrus County; it does not reach inside Crystal River or Inverness, each of which enforces its own municipal code.