Martin County, FL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 67.305.N of the Martin County Code of Ordinances, part of Article 10, the Noise Control Ordinance, prohibits 'animal noises': 'It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal to permit such animal to habitually bark, whine, howl, squawk, screech, crow or cause any other noise which is objectionable due to pitch, frequency, timing, or any combination thereof.' This sits alongside a nearly identical animal-nuisance provision at section 9.96 in the animals chapter, which lets a code officer investigate a habitually-barking or otherwise nuisance-causing animal once three sworn affidavits from residents at different addresses in the vicinity are filed, or fewer affidavits at the animal services supervisor's discretion for unusual circumstances.

Under section 67.302, code inspectors enforce noise violations using either the 'plainly audible' standard or a sound level meter, but not both for the same incident, and the choice is at the inspector's sole discretion. Section 67.303 defines 'plainly audible' as any sound a code inspector can clearly hear with unaided normal hearing, without needing to identify particular words or a song, so long as the inspector can identify the source; when a sound level meter is used instead, section 67.304 requires the inspector to be at least 150 feet from the property line and to measure continuously for at least ten minutes.

Section 67.309 sets escalating civil penalties for noise violations enforced under F.S. ch. 162, pt. II: $100.00 for a first violation, $300.00 for a second, and $500.00 for a third and every violation after that, with a $50.00 reduction if the cited person does not contest the citation. Contested citations go to County Court under section 67.309.E. An owner who believes they cannot feasibly stop the noise, for instance a barking dog tied to a pre-existing kennel use, may seek a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment under section 67.308, which requires a public hearing with 15 days' newspaper notice and ten days' mailed notice to property owners within 300 feet.