St. Tammany Parish, LA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in St. Tammany Parish, LA, 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
- Code § 10-646(1), excessive noises
- Where it applies
- Unincorporated areas of the parish only (§ 10-641)
- Misdemeanor penalty
- $250.00 to $500.00, up to 30 days, or both
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Animal Services officers; sheriff concurrently
- Administrative route
- Parish administrative hearing officer, § 2-542 et seq.
- Minimum administrative cost
- Not less than $100.00 per violation found (§ 2-551)
- Repeat offenses
- Up to double within one year, triple after (§ 2-555)
Summary
In unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, excessive or untimely barking that is unreasonably loud and intrusive, and that essentially interferes with privacy inside a home or with the use of residential property, is a public nuisance under Code § 10-646(1). The ordinance sets no decibel reading and no quiet-hours clock. A conviction carries a fine of $250.00 to $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both.
Every owner or keeper of animals shall exercise proper care and control of such animals so as to prevent them from creating or becoming a public nuisance. A violation of any of the following provisions shall constitute a public nuisance and is strictly prohibited: (1) Excessive noises. Excessive or untimely barking, howling, yelping, or other animal noise that is unreasonably loud and intrusive or disturbing and which essentially interferes with the right of privacy within one's home or unreasonably interferes with the use of one's residential property, which is defined to include single-family, duplex or multifamily dwellings, nursing homes, outpatient surgical facilities and similar facilities. ... (14) Penalties and enforcement for violating this article. a. Misdemeanor enforcement. Whoever violates any provision of this article, or any of its sections or subsections, or fails or neglects to perform any duty imposed by it, shall be fined not less than $250.00 nor more than $500.00, or imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
The barking rule sits in Article IV of Chapter 10, the St. Tammany Parish Animal Control and Welfare Ordinance, which under § 10-641 is in force throughout the unincorporated areas of the parish. Residents of incorporated municipalities such as Slidell, Covington or Mandeville answer to their own city codes instead. Section 10-646 opens by requiring every owner or keeper of animals to exercise proper care and control so the animals do not create or become a public nuisance, then lists the conduct that counts. Item (1), "Excessive noises," covers excessive or untimely barking, howling, yelping, or other animal noise. It applies to any animal, not only dogs, and the definition of owner in § 10-642 reaches anyone owning, keeping or harboring an animal, or having one in care on or about the premises.
The test is qualitative. The noise must be unreasonably loud and intrusive or disturbing, and it must either essentially interfere with the right of privacy within one's home or unreasonably interfere with the use of one's residential property. The code defines residential property to include single-family, duplex and multifamily dwellings, nursing homes, outpatient surgical facilities and similar facilities. There is no minimum number of minutes, no set hours, and no decibel threshold, so the question in any case is whether the barking really disturbs the neighbor's home life.
Enforcement belongs to the animal control officers of the parish Department of Animal Services under § 10-643(a). They can pursue the violation administratively before the parish administrative hearing officer, or refer a criminal case to the office of the district attorney of the 22nd Judicial District. The parish sheriff holds concurrent authority and can issue citations. Section 10-645 adds a general duty to take all necessary steps to protect other people and property from harm caused by an animal's behavior, and § 10-645(c) makes the parent or guardian responsible when the owner is a minor. The section was last amended by Ord. No. 26-5955 on 4-9-2026.
Violations & Fines
Section 10-646(14)a makes a violation a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $250.00 nor more than $500.00, imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both, plus court costs and any reasonable enforcement costs the court orders. Alternatively, § 10-646(14)b lets the parish serve a notice to appear before the administrative hearing officer under § 2-542 et seq. Administrative costs under § 2-551 are mandatory and start at $100.00, and repeat citations within one year can be doubled under § 2-555.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a decibel limit or set quiet hour for a barking dog in St. Tammany Parish?
Who handles a barking dog complaint in the unincorporated parish?
What does a conviction for a barking nuisance cost?
Can the parish use an administrative hearing instead of criminal court?
What happens if my anonymous complaint finds no violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
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