Barking dog rules in Lowell, MA — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Lowell Code Section 104-29 prohibits owners from allowing a dog to bark in the open, outside any building, repetitively for more than 30 minutes between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Excessive daytime barking (7 AM-9 PM) due to owner neglect is also subject to fines. The noise chapter's Section 204-4C(11) makes any animal causing frequent or long-continued annoyance a prima facie violation when two adjacent-residing neighbors agree on the disturbance.
Barking dogs are governed primarily by Lowell Code Section 104-29 (Chapter 104, Animals, Article I Dogs), which Chapter 204 cross-references. Section 104-29 prohibits an owner from allowing dogs to 'bark in the open, outside of any building, repetitively for more than 30 minutes between the hours of 9 PM and 7 AM,' and provides that 'excessive barking by any dog during the hours of 7 AM and 9 PM due to owner neglect, as determined by the Animal Control Officer, shall be subject to fines' and a hearing before the hearing officer on whether the dog is a nuisance dog. The penalty structure is graduated: a first offense in any twelve-month period draws a written warning, and a second or subsequent offense draws a $50 fine. Independently, the noise ordinance's Section 204-4C(11) (Animals and birds) makes it unlawful to keep any animal or bird 'which by any frequent or long-continued noise shall cause annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitivity in the vicinity,' and establishes that noise disturbing two or more residents in separate adjacent dwelling units, who are in general agreement as to the times and durations, is prima facie evidence of a violation. Enforcement runs through the Animal Control Officer/Lowell Police for Section 104-29 and Police/Health for Chapter 204.
Under Section 104-29: first offense in a 12-month period = written warning; second or subsequent = $50 fine, with a nuisance-dog hearing before the hearing officer. Under Section 204-4C(11)/204-6: written warning then $100 per offense for continued animal noise.
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