Barking dog rules in Rutherford County, 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.
In Murfreesboro it is a noise violation if an animal barks, howls or whines continuously for more than 10 minutes, or intermittently for more than 20 minutes, when plainly audible 100 feet or more away. Kenneled livestock is exempt.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-108(C) makes any owner or harborer liable if their animal barks, howls, whines, meows, squawks or makes like sound continuously for more than ten minutes, or intermittently for more than twenty minutes, and the sound is plainly audible 100 feet or more from the animal or unreasonably disturbs the peace. Livestock and lawfully kenneled animals are exempt from the general clause but still may not cause unreasonable annoyance heard across a residential boundary. Affirmative defenses cover animals responding to an emergency, a trespasser, or intentional provocation by another. Unincorporated Rutherford County relies on general nuisance authority rather than a timed barking rule.
A first barking-animal offense requires a written warning before a citation issues. Repeat violations are prosecuted by citation under City Code sec. 1-8, each half hour a separate offense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rutherford County, TN
The county has no ordinance using the word 'hoarding,' but the PAWS Rules make neglect and cruelty unlawful and let officers seize animals kept without adequ...
Rutherford County, TN
The county animal Rules (PAWS) contain no ban on feeding deer, birds, or other wildlife. Wildlife is regulated by the state Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agen...
Rutherford County, TN
Backyard composting is legal in Rutherford County and Murfreesboro; there is no mandatory residential organics-diversion program. A compost pile must not bec...
Rutherford County, TN
No Rutherford County or Murfreesboro ordinance bans residential artificial turf. Synthetic grass is generally allowed on private yards; development landscapi...
Rutherford County, TN
Neither Rutherford County nor Murfreesboro requires homeowners to plant native or drought-tolerant species. Landscaping and buffer plantings are required onl...
Rutherford County, TN
Neither Rutherford County nor the City of Murfreesboro restricts residential rainwater harvesting, and Tennessee places no ban on collecting rooftop rainwate...
See how Rutherford County's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.