Irvington, NJ Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Irvington, NJ, 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
- Irvington Township Code § 167-17D
- Standard
- Prolonged, continuous, unwarranted barking/howling
- Complaint intake
- Dept. of Health (business hours) / Public Safety
- Complainant identity
- Not revealed absent court order
- First offense fine
- $100
- Fourth offense fine
- Up to $500, court appearance required
Summary
Irvington Township Code Section 167-17D requires anyone who keeps, owns or harbors a dog to restrain it, inside or outside the owner's property, from prolonged, continuous and unwarranted barking or howling at any time of day or night, so it does not annoy or disturb neighboring residents, nursing homes, schools, churches or hospitals. Complaints go to the Department of Health during business hours or Public Safety at other times.
Any person who keeps, owns or harbors a dog shall be required to restrain the dog, whether inside or outside of the owner's or guardian's property, from prolonged, continuous and unwarranted barking and howling any time of the day or night, so as not to annoy or disturb neighboring residents, nursing homes, schools, churches and hospitals. Complaints made by residents or persons who suffer from this type of noise may be made to the Department of Health, in the case of nonoperating hours of the Department of Health, such complaints may be made to the Department of Public Safety.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996945; v39 updated 2026-07-13; through 07-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
The barking-dog rule was added May 10, 1983, under Ordinance No. MC 2699, and last amended October 14, 2015, under Ordinance No. MC 3553, and it is paired in the same section with a broader dog-nuisance rule: Section 167-17A and B separately require an owner to prevent a dog from committing a nuisance, including defecating on sidewalks, public buildings, parks or private property without permission, and require immediate cleanup by the person in charge of the dog. Section 167-17E lays out what happens after a complaint: an officer is dispatched to the location, and if the officer authenticates the complaint, they try to contact the owner or leave written notice at the property, with a report forwarded to the Department of Health the next business day; neither department will reveal the complainant's identity to the accused unless a court orders it.
Section 167-17F adds that a complaint received during the Department of Health's regular hours is referred there for investigation, and the Department notifies the owner that further violations will bring further Township action. The rule applies at any time of day or night and does not set a decibel threshold or a duration in minutes; prolonged, continuous and unwarranted is the operative standard, applied case by case by the responding officer.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the nuisance and barking provisions in Section 167-17 carries a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second, $300 for a third and up to $500 for a fourth offense, with a court appearance required at that fourth tier under the schedule in Section 167-19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a law against barking dogs in Irvington?
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Will the dog owner know who complained about the barking?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irvington
Compare Irvington to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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Barking Dogs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Essex County handle barking dogs.