Palm Coast, FL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Sec. 8-28 of the Palm Coast City Code defines a 'public nuisance animal' to include, among 13 listed criteria, one that repeatedly or excessively, in excess of 20 minutes, barks, cries, howls, screeches, squawks, screams, whines or makes other prolonged or disturbing noises interfering with the peace, comfort, repose or quietude of the neighboring properties, but only if the complainant has filed a sworn statement with a City of Palm Coast animal control officer, a law enforcement officer, or a code enforcement officer. Sec. 8-30(a) then makes it unlawful for any owner to allow an animal to become a public nuisance as defined in Sec.

8-28, and subsection (d)(3) separately requires owners to maintain the animal and property so as to prevent a nuisance affecting the health, safety, welfare or livability of nearby property. The sworn-statement requirement means a barking complaint isn't actionable on a verbal report alone; a neighbor must put the complaint in writing under oath before the City will pursue it. Once filed, an animal control officer investigating under Sec. 8-29 can issue a warning notice or move directly to a civil citation. Violations of Sec. 8-30 fall under Article II's general enforcement scheme in Sec. 00, contestable before the city's Hearing Officer, and requires a mandatory court appearance for a third or subsequent citation against the same owner.