Walton County, FL Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 5-28 of the Walton County Animal Control Ordinance defines a 'nuisance animal' to include one that persistently or continuously barks, whines, howls, meows or makes other sounds common to its species when unprovoked, for 20 minutes or longer, unless it is contained in an enclosure sufficient to baffle the noise. The section spells out the math: persistent or continuous means non-stop utterances for 20 consecutive minutes with individual interruptions of less than 30 seconds during that period, so a dog that pauses for under half a minute at a time still counts as barking continuously.

Section 5-32 makes it unlawful for an owner or custodian to let an animal become a nuisance animal under any of the article's nine nuisance categories, which also cover trespassing, property damage, scattering trash, and animals in heat left unrestrained. Enforcement runs through Walton County Animal Services, a section of the Sheriff's Office: an officer investigates a logged complaint and may issue a citation if the violation happens in the officer's presence, the evidence at the scene is enough for a reasonable person to believe a violation occurred, or owners or occupants of two or more different lots or residences submit verified written statements. Security animals on commercial or industrial property, service animals, and animals provoked by someone other than their owner are exempt from the barking-nuisance provision.