Fairfax County, VA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

(k)Any owner or person in control of any animal that allows or otherwise permits any such animal to bark, howl, bay, meow, squawk, quack, crow or make such other sound:(1)Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. that is plainly audible in any other person's residential dwelling with doors and windows closed and the source of sound generation shall be discernible regardless of whether such doors or windows are closed; or(2)Between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. when the animal sound is plainly audible and discernible across real property boundaries or through partitions common to residential dwellings and such sound can be heard for more than five consecutive or non-consecutive minutes in any ten-minute period of time. Animal sounds that can be heard for less than five consecutive or non-consecutive minutes in any ten-minute period shall not be subject to this Chapter. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any animal that, at the time of the sound or sound generation, was responding to pain or injury or was protecting itself, its kennel, its offspring, or a person from an actual threat; when the animal is a police dog that is engaged in the performance of its duties at the time of making the sound; or when part of a bona fide agricultural operation. This provision shall apply to all animal sounds emanating from the same property. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, animals located in a dog park shall be subject to the provisions of Par. (l) below.