West Haven, CT Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Section 89-9 of the West Haven Code was added on 9-9-1996 by Ord. No. 362 to Chapter 89, Dogs. It applies to any person who owns or harbors a dog or dogs within the City of West Haven. The dog becomes a violation when it is a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition, excessive barking or other disturbance. It also covers a dog whose barking or other disturbance is a source of annoyance to any sick person residing in the immediate vicinity, so a neighbor's illness is written into the text as a trigger.

The section prints no decibel level, no clock hours and no count of minutes or barking episodes. The code leaves excessive barking undefined, so the standard is the words of § 89-9 itself. Chapter 89 defines owner as any person, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog, which means a household that only keeps or harbors a dog is covered as well as its legal owner. Section 89-1 states the purpose of the chapter: safe and proper control over dogs located in the City of West Haven, and adequate care and protection of dogs, to protect the health, safety and welfare of inhabitants.

Section 89-2 notes that the chapter is supplemented in some instances by Chapter 435 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which applies to control of dogs in the State of Connecticut. Section 89-3 designates a Dog Warden of the City of West Haven, with duly authorized assistants. General noise limits for other sources sit separately in Chapter 154 of the West Haven Code.