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Murfreesboro, TN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Barking dog rules in Murfreesboro, TN, 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

Continuous threshold
more than 10 minutes
Intermittent threshold
more than 20 minutes
Audible distance
100 feet or more
Defense
responding to trespasser or emergency
Excluded
zoning-authorized kennels, livestock

Summary

A dog or other animal that barks, howls, or makes similar noise continuously for more than 10 minutes, or on and off for more than 20 minutes, audible 100 feet away, violates the City's noise article.

Any person who owns, possess, or harbors any animal shall violate this Article if such animal barks, howls, whines, meows, squawks, or makes any other like sound continuously for more than ten minutes or intermittently for more than 20 minutes, where such sound is plainly audible from a distance of 100 feet or more from the animal or where such sound unreasonably disturbs the peace.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Code § 21-108(C) makes it a violation for any owner, possessor, or keeper of an animal to let it bark, howl, whine, meow, squawk, or make a like sound continuously for more than 10 minutes or intermittently for more than 20 minutes, when plainly audible 100 feet or more away or when the sound unreasonably disturbs the peace. It's an affirmative defense if the animal was responding to a trespasser or an emergency. Livestock and kennels lawfully authorized under zoning are excluded from this subsection.

Violations & Fines

Police or a Noise Control Officer can cite the owner under Code § 21-112; unabated barking is treated as a new offense for every half hour it continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can my dog bark before it's a code violation in Murfreesboro?
More than 10 minutes straight, or 20 minutes on and off, if it's audible 100 feet away or otherwise disturbs the peace: that violates Code § 21-108(C).
Is there a defense if my dog barks at a trespasser?
Yes. Section 21-108(C)(2) makes it an affirmative defense that the animal was responding to an emergency or a trespasser on the owner's property.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Murfreesboro

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All Murfreesboro rules

Compare Murfreesboro to another location·View the Tennessee noise ordinances overview

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