Barking dog rules in Vienna, VA — also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances — define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Persistent barking dogs are regulated under Vienna Town Code as a public nuisance. Barking, howling, or whining audible beyond the owner's property for more than 15 consecutive minutes, or intermittently for 30 minutes, may result in citation. Owners receive a warning before fines are issued.
The Town of Vienna addresses persistent dog barking under Chapter 13 (Noise) and Chapter 6 (Animals) of the Town Code. A dog whose barking, howling, yelping, or whining disturbs the peace of neighbors can be declared a nuisance animal. The threshold commonly applied is continuous vocalization for 15 minutes or more, or intermittent vocalization totaling 30 minutes within a one-hour period, that is audible beyond the owner's property line. Complaints are handled by Fairfax County Animal Protection Police (which serves Vienna through an intergovernmental agreement) and Vienna Police. First complaints typically result in a written warning to the owner. Subsequent verified complaints can result in Class 4 misdemeanor charges with fines up to 250 dollars. Chronic nuisance dogs may be classified as dangerous or require abatement measures such as bark collars, indoor confinement during quiet hours, or sound-dampening kennels. Complainants may be asked to keep a written log of barking incidents with dates, times, and durations to support enforcement action. Multiple neighbors filing independent complaints strengthens the case.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fairfax County.
See how other cities in Fairfax County handle barking dogs.
See how Vienna's barking dogs rules stack up against other locations.
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