Spring Hill, TN Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 10-205 of the Spring Hill Municipal Code covers three sounds: barking, whining and howling. The trigger is a dog that annoys or disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, and the sound has to be both loud and frequent. The duty falls on anyone who owns, keeps or harbors the dog, so a person housing a neighbor's dog is covered along with the owner.

Two other provisions reach the same problem. Section 10-105 bars keeping any animal or fowl in such a place or condition as to become a nuisance because of noise, odor, contagious disease or other reason. Section 11-402(A)(5) lists, among its declared unnecessary noises, the keeping of any animal or bird which by causing frequent or long-continued noise disturbs the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity.

Section 11-402(B) lists what is weighed in deciding whether a noise violates the section: the volume and intensity of the noise, the time of day or night, the duration, whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant, its proximity to residential sleeping facilities, and the nature, zoning and density of the area. Section 10-205 itself sets no decibel number.

When a barking complaint is charged under § 11-402, subsection (E) requires a written notice of intention to prosecute not less than five calendar days and not more than 360 calendar days before a misdemeanor citation or warrant issues. No citation or warrant issues if the cause is removed, abated or fully corrected within that five-day period and does not resume before issuance. Title 10 is administered by the Health Officer, whoever the Board of Mayor and Aldermen appoints or designates to administer and enforce health and sanitation regulations within the city.