Barking dogs and animal noise issues

Domestic animal owners must ensure their pets do not create excessive noise that may disturb neighbours or negatively affect the local environment. Being a responsible pet owner means taking steps to prevent your animal from becoming a noise nuisance.

An animal causes a noise nuisance if:

  1. in the opinion of an authorised person, the noise unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort and convenience of any person on their property; and
  2. the duration of the noise exceeds
    • more than a total of six minutes in any 60-minute period between the hours of 7am and 10pm on any day, or
    • more than a total of three minutes in any 30-minute period between the hours of 10pm and 7am on any day.

We investigate noise issues related to:

  • barking dogs
  • crowing roosters
  • squawking birds.

Many noise issues can be easily resolved by talking to the animal's owner about the problem and allowing time for owner to find a solution. However, if this isn't possible or hasn't worked, you can formally report the problem to us.

Report animal noise nuisance

Noise complaint process

The following steps will be taken if you lodge a noise complaint.

  1. To allow us to fully investigate the problem we will require your contact details and address and the exact address of the noise nuisance.
  2. We will send you and the animal's owner an animal noise nuisance information package. This package will include a noise nuisance diary for the complainant and information about why animals may make excessive noise and ways it can be resolved.
  3. The animal's owner will be given two weeks to solve the noise problem.
  4. If the noise nuisance continues, you will need to fill in the noise nuisance five day diary and then submit it by email or mail.
  5. A letter will be generated and sent to the complainant and animal owner explaining that a noise net device will be installed. This device is placed in the complainant's property and will record noise readings. The noise net records pitch only so will not record voices.
  6. The results of the noise net device will be used to determine if the levels of noise are allowable under the relevant local law.
  7. If the levels of noise are not allowable, our animal management staff will take appropriate enforcement action. This may include serving a notice to the animal owner requiring them to stop the noise nuisance within a reasonable timeframe. If the owner does not stop the noise nuisance, we may issue up to two fines. If the noise nuisance continues, we may seize the animal or begin legal action.

Barking dogs

All dogs have a natural instinct to bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing the quality of life for their neighbours and increasing neighbourhood tensions. Many dogs will bark when their owners are not home, and this may be due to separation anxiety. Alternatively, the dog may be providing a neighbourhood watch service by alerting you and your neighbours to the presence of an intruder.

Concerned neighbour

Ways to resolve the problem

  1. Talk to the dog's owner to ensure they’re aware of the problem and see if they can do something about it. After speaking with the owner, if they agree to do something about the noise, wait a few weeks to see if they’ve been successful in their efforts. Your support and ongoing feedback about the dog's behaviour can help resolve the problem.
  2. If the dog’s owner is unapproachable, or you are not comfortable approaching the dog owner the Barking dog package(PDF, 329KB) can be placed in the dog owner’s letterbox.
  3. If the problem continues and can't be solved by talking to the dog's owner, you can report the problem to us and we will investigate. If we identify a noise nuisance, we can direct the person to solve the problem.
    Report animal noise nuisance
  4. If you would prefer a formal mediation process to resolve the issue amicably, please contact the Dispute Resolution Centre, which can provide a free mediation service to work through the issue.
    Mediation helps people settle disputes without going to court. For more information on applying for mediation, contact your nearest Dispute Resolution Centre, or visit the Queensland Government website.

Dog owner

Talk with your neighbours

You may want to ask your neighbours to help you document the barking for a few days, given that your dog may be barking when you are away or at work. Explain to your neighbours that you are aware of the issue and ask for their help and patience while you try and solve the problem.

If you are concerned about speaking with your neighbours you may wish to use the Barking dog package for the dog owner(PDF, 426KB). The cards enable your neighbours to give you feedback anonymously. 

Noisy native or wild animals

If you are concerned about noisy wild or native animals, please contact the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation on 13 74 68.

Key tasks

Report animal noise nuisance

 

Related information

 

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