Barking dog rules in Suffolk County, MA — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
No county-level dog barking ordinance. State law MGL c. 140 §136A governs statewide; local cities in Suffolk County add their own regulations. Boston, Chelsea, and Revere each have animal control ordinances addressing excessive barking.
Massachusetts does not have county-level animal control. Each Suffolk County municipality operates its own animal control division. State law MGL c. 140 Section 157 provides the dangerous dog and nuisance framework applied uniformly. Dog licensing is required statewide under MGL c. 140 Section 137. Complaints should be directed to the specific city's animal control officer or police department.
Nuisance dog determinations made at the municipal level. State penalties apply for dangerous dogs.
Suffolk County, MA
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See how Suffolk County's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
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