Excessive barking can seriously affect neighbourhood harmony. This page explains what counts as a nuisance, how to make a complaint, and what dog owners can do to address the problem.

What counts as a barking nuisance

Under the Dog Control Act 2000, barking becomes a nuisance when it:

  • Persistently occurs or continues
  • Unreasonably interferes with peace, comfort or convenience
  • Affects people in their homes or in public places

Typical examples include continuous daytime or night-time barking, or repeated barking that disturbs neighbours over a sustained period.

How the complaint process works

We handle barking complaints in two stages. Most issues are resolved at the first stage — often the dog owner doesn’t realise there’s a problem, especially if the barking happens while they’re out.

Stage 1: Informal complaint

To raise an informal complaint, we ask you to provide a statutory declaration outlining the barking issue. This gives our Municipal Inspector the factual detail needed to approach the dog owner constructively — times, duration, impact, and any pattern you’ve observed.

Once we have your statutory declaration:

  • We contact the dog owner to let them know there may be a barking issue
  • We share resources for managing excessive barking
  • The owner has two weeks to address it voluntarily

Most complaints are resolved at this stage without needing to go any further.

Stage 2: Formal complaint

If the nuisance continues beyond two weeks, you can ask Council to formally investigate.

  • You must submit a formal notice under Section 47 of the Dog Control Act 2000
  • A fee applies (fully refundable unless the complaint is found to be frivolous or vexatious)
  • Council can’t formally investigate without this step

Filing a formal complaint

What you need to provide

Your barking log

Your log should include:

  • Dates and times of barking
  • Duration of each incident
  • Impact on your peace and comfort
  • At least 7 consecutive days of observations

Use the barking log sheet included with the complaint form. Print additional pages if you need them.

Be aware: if the matter can’t be resolved, you may be asked to give evidence before a magistrate.

What Council does next

If an authorised officer confirms a nuisance exists, they can serve an abatement notice on the dog owner. The notice sets out:

  • The nature of the nuisance
  • Action required to stop it
  • Timeframe for compliance

If the owner doesn’t comply, we can issue an infringement notice and take further legal action.

Advice for dog owners

If you’ve been told your dog is barking excessively, it’s worth taking it seriously — there’s almost always an underlying reason.

Start here

  • Monitor your dog’s behaviour, especially when you’re away (a recording device or camera can help)
  • Identify triggers — boredom, anxiety, territorial behaviour, or visual stimuli
  • Check the RSPCA Knowledgebase for excessive barking solutions

Common solutions

  • More exercise and mental stimulation
  • Addressing separation anxiety
  • Removing visual triggers (fencing, repositioning kennels)
  • Professional dog training
  • Veterinary advice — pain, cognitive decline in older dogs, or hearing issues can all cause barking

Advice for neighbours

  • Talk to the dog’s owner directly first, if you feel comfortable — they may not know
  • Document the issue before lodging a complaint
  • Be specific about times and impacts
  • Consider mediation services if available

Forms and Information

Also in Dog Management