Shelby County, TN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Shelby 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.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Shelby County Code § 16-64
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Shelby County only
- Fine
- Up to $50.00 per violation
- Repeat violations
- Each day is a separate offense
- Chronic offenders
- Public nuisance, injunctive relief (§16-68)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 168, Oct. 23, 1995
Summary
Shelby County Code Sec. 16-64 bans keeping any animal, dog, cat, fowl or otherwise, whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs a neighbor's comfort or repose. It applies only in unincorporated Shelby County, not Memphis or the suburban towns. A first violation draws a fine up to fifty dollars under Sec. 16-67, and each day the barking continues is a separate offense.
Sec. 16-64. - Noisy animals and fowl. The keeping of any animal which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity is hereby prohibited. (Code 1992, § 19-44; Ord. No. 168, § 1(4), 10-23-1995) ... Sec. 16-67. - Enforcement; fines. Violation of any section of this article is hereby declared to be unlawful and punishable by a fine not to exceed $50.00 for each separate violation. Each day that any violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate violation. (Code 1992, § 19-47; Ord. No. 168, § 1(7), 10-23-1995) ... Sec. 16-68. - Nuisances. Repeated violations of any section of this article shall constitute a public nuisance and be subject to abatement through injunctive relief. (Code 1992, § 19-48; Ord. No. 168, § 1(8), 10-23-1995)
Full Breakdown
Article III of Chapter 16, Environment, is the county's general noise code, and Sec. " The section traces to Code 1992, Sec. 19-44, and Ord. No. 168, Sec. 1(4), adopted October 23, 1995, and it has not been amended since. It covers any animal kept on a property, not dogs alone, so chronically crowing roosters or howling kennels fall under it the same way a barking dog does. Sec. , and state-sanctioned boat races. None of those exemptions touch animal noise, so a property owner cannot use them to excuse a dog.
Sec. 00 per separate violation, with each day the noise continues counted as its own violation. Sec. 16-68 adds that repeated violations become a public nuisance subject to abatement through injunctive relief, giving the county a court remedy beyond the daily fine for a chronic offender. Sec. 16-69 clarifies the article is not meant to stop legitimate business activity that does not unreasonably interfere with surrounding residential or commercial use, a limit aimed at commercial noise rather than pets.
Violations & Fines
A sustained barking, howling or crowing complaint that disturbs a neighbor's comfort or repose violates Sec. 16-64 and carries a fine up to $50.00 per day under Sec. 16-67, with each additional day of noise billed as a new offense. Shelby County Sheriff's Office and county code enforcement investigate complaints. An owner who racks up repeated citations faces a public-nuisance abatement action under Sec. 16-68, which lets the county pursue an injunction ordering the noise stopped, not just another fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shelby County's noisy-animal law cover cats and other pets, not just dogs?
How much is the fine for a barking dog complaint in unincorporated Shelby County?
Does this ordinance apply if I live inside Memphis city limits?
Can the county do more than fine a repeat offender's noisy dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shelby County
Compare Shelby County to another location·View the Tennessee noise ordinances overview
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