Troy, NY Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Troy writes the barking rule twice, once in the dog chapter and once in the noise chapter. Both bind the person keeping the animal, not the dog. Section 124-7, part of the Dog Control Ordinance adopted by the Troy City Council for the City of Troy in Rensselaer County, New York, bars keeping or harboring a dog which howls or barks habitually or continuously so as to disturb the peace and quiet of other persons. The test has two parts: the barking is habitual or continuous, and it disturbs other persons' peace and quiet. The section prints no minimum number of minutes or hours.

Chapter 201 (Noise), § 201-4(K), lists animals among the enumerated prohibited noises: no person shall keep, permit or maintain any animal under his or her control that causes unreasonable or unnecessary noise by continued barking, howling or other animal noises. That wording reaches any animal, not only dogs. The chapter's general standard in § 201-3 looks at factors that include the time of day and night the noise occurs, its duration, and whether it is recurrent, intermittent or constant.

Neighbors have a printed complaint path. Under § 124-16, any person who observes or has knowledge of a dog violating any section of the article can file a signed complaint under oath with the Clerk's office of the Police Court, stating the objectionable conduct, the date, the damage caused, a description of the dog and the owner's name and residence if known. Under § 124-17 the Clerk can summon the owner to appear in person and, if the summons is disregarded, permit the filing of an information and issue a warrant for the arrest of the owner. The Animal Control Officer enforces the article under § 124-15, and the Judge of the Police Court hears the complaints under § 124-14. After complaint and hearing, § 124-13(B) lets that judge direct an owner in violation of § 124-7 to dispose of the dog outside the City or deliver it to the Animal Control Officer for humane destruction.