Montgomery, AL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Montgomery, AL, 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
- City Code Sec. 4-3
- Warning period
- 7 days before affidavit allowed
- First fine
- $50.00 minimum
- Repeat fines
- $250 (2nd), $500 (3rd+) within 12 months
- Where filed
- Municipal court warrant clerk, weekdays 8-5
Summary
Montgomery, Alabama treats a habitually barking or yelping dog as a public nuisance animal under City Code Sec. 4-3. Owners get a written warning first; if the noise continues past seven days, the complainant can file an affidavit in municipal court against the owner.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to exercise the necessary care and control to prevent an animal in their possession or care from becoming a public nuisance animal. For purposes of this section, an animal is a public nuisance animal if the animal: (1)Habitually makes disturbing noises including, but not limited to barking, yelping, whining, or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance or discomfort to others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept... Whenever any person shall complain to animal control officer or city police officer concerning a public nuisance animal, the animal control officer or city police officer will notify the owner or keeper of said animal or animals by written warning... If within seven days of the issuance of the warning... the owner or keeper... has not remedied or made substantial progress towards remedying the specified nuisance, then the complainant shall have the right to appear before the municipal court warrant clerk... and complete an affidavit/summons.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " The owner or keeper of the animal must exercise necessary care and control to prevent this; failing to do so is itself the unlawful act. Enforcement runs through a two-step process. First, when a resident complains to an animal control officer or city police officer, that officer notifies the owner by a written warning, hand-delivered or mailed, that a complaint was received and steps are needed to fix it. ) and complete an affidavit/summons against the owner. The warrant clerk must confirm the seven-day warning predates the affidavit before issuing the summons, so a complaint cannot go straight to court.
Sec. 4-3(c) makes the article cumulative, meaning it supplements rather than replaces any other nuisance authority the city already holds. Penalties for chapter 4, article I violations, which include Sec. 4-3, are set in Sec. 00 for a third or later conviction in that same 12-month window.
Violations & Fines
A first conviction under Sec. 4-3 carries a minimum $50.00 fine (Sec. 4-2(a)(1)); a second conviction within 12 months raises the minimum to $250.00, and a third or later conviction within 12 months carries a $500.00 fine. Cases are heard in Montgomery Municipal Court after the complainant files the sworn affidavit with the warrant clerk following the mandatory seven-day warning period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a nuisance barking dog in Montgomery?
Can I go straight to court over a barking dog?
What fine does a dog owner face for a nuisance barking violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery
Compare Montgomery to another location·View the Alabama noise ordinances overview
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