Barking dogs can be disturbing or annoying for neighbours.

Often the problem occurs when the dog's owner is out of the house. In law, a barking dog can be a statutory noise nuisance if it is a persistent problem, interfering substantially with your well being, comfort or enjoyment of your property.

When a complaint is made to the Council concerning this form of noise nuisance it will be investigated by Environmental Health Officers and Technical Officers of the Public Health Services Section.

If a complaint is found to be justified, a nuisance abatement notice may be served under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The notice will be served upon the person responsible for the noise and the person in question has the right of appeal within 21 days of it being served.

If a barking dog is disturbing you, please contact us with the address at which the dog is kept and if known, details of the person having control of the dog, we will then send you a noise log to complete, prior to any investigation.

For further information please download the DEFRA leaflet entitled “Is your dog barking too much?”.