Help and reporting barking

Nuisance barking is considered to be anything that regularly interferes with the reasonable peace or comfort of a neighbour, including:

  • disturbed sleep
  • inability to work
  • psychological stress
  • inability to undertake normal activities within the home without interruption.

Dogs at large

All dogs that are found at large where an owner cannot be identified are taken to the Council Pound where they are held for a period before being assessed for re-homing.

Microchipping and registering your dog, and making sure contact details are current, greatly increases the likelihood that we will be able to reunite your dog with you should they be found.

Reporting a dog nuisance

Step 1.Talk to the owner

If barking is becoming an issue, start by speaking with your neighbour. Your neighbours may not be aware of the problem if the dog is only barking when they are out.

If your neighbour takes no action or does not agree that there is a problem, then you can lodge a complaint with us.

We have a guide on how to deal with barking dogs(PDF, 558KB).

Step 2.Lodge a complaint

Confidentially let us know:

  • your name, address and phone number
  • address of the offending dog(s)
  • the breed/colour of the offending dog(s)
  • if you have spoken to the owner of the dog(s)
  • when you believe the dog(s) barking is an issue
  • any other information you feel maybe useful.

Let us know by calling 9490 4222

We will asses each case on the evidence provided and action taken appropriate to the situation.

Penalties may apply if someone’s animal is assessed as causing a nuisance and steps are not taken to rectify this.

Step 3.Response

Before investigating, we will contact the dog owner to tell them we have received a complaint about a barking dog.

We offer those owners information about barking dogs and possible solutions. Many dog owners respond positively.

If the problem persists, you will be asked to monitor and log the situation for 2 weeks or longer and to record it.

Step 4.Recording

Record everything in a dog barking diary. We have a template and a sample to get you started.

Once the diary has been completed, a statutory declaration must be attached to the diary, signed and witnessed by an appropriate person.

Find out how to write a statutory declaration with Department of Justice: Statutory declarations.

Contact us

For more information about and to request a barking dog diary be sent out, contact our Local Laws team on 9490 4222.

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