Barking dog rules in Rock Hill, SC — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Section 20-162(1) declares the keeping of any animal which by causing frequent or long-continued noise disturbs the comfort or repose of persons in the vicinity to be a loud, disturbing noise in violation of §20-161. Chapter 20 cross-references the city's barking or howling dogs section in Chapter 6.
Rock Hill's animal-noise rule lives in the noise chapter itself. Section 20-162(1) explicitly lists 'Animals, birds, etc.' as a specific noise prohibited under the general rule of §20-161: keeping any animal that, by causing frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of persons in the vicinity. The Division 2 cross-reference points to the city's separate barking or howling dogs section (historically §6-36 in Chapter 6, Animals). Section 20-161's eight-factor test still applies, so duration, time of day, and previous abatement requests all factor in. Section 20-162(18) also reaches animal noise in residential zones through the 60 dB(A) lot-line cap.
A Chapter 20 violation is a misdemeanor prosecuted in Rock Hill Municipal Court, with penalties up to $500 and 30 days in jail under SC Code §14-25-65. Complaints typically begin with a documented log of dates and times.
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See how Rock Hill's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
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