Annoyed By Excessive Animal Noise?

• Seattle Municipal Code

One problem with living in a large city is learning to live with noise. Traffic noises, the sounds of neighborhood children, lawn mowers, construction, and the noise created by animals are just a few of the sounds that can disturb our peace. As residents of the City of Seattle, you are expected to tolerate most of these noises without complaint. However, if you are disturbed by the continual, repeated and excessive noise created by a neighbor's animal, there is something you can do!

First, if you so desire, speak with the owner of the animal. Let the pet owner know that you are disturbed by the noise created by the animal. Try to work out a solution in a neighborly manner. Offer suggestions or alternatives which might help reduce the noise during the times you are bothered. Allow the pet owner a little time to work out a solution to the noise problem. Record all contacts with the pet owner and responses received as well as the dates and times of the noise violations.

If you have tried to solve the problem in this way and find that after some time you are still listening to excessive noise created by an animal, you may contact Seattle Animal Shelter and file a complaint regarding noise nuisance. A letter will be sent to the pet owner informing them of the noise complaint as well as their responsibilities as a pet owner. Additionally, a declaration form will be mailed to you should the noise violations continue to occur. This form allows you to give animal control a written statement of the complaint as well as the basis for any legal action that the City may pursue against the pet owner. All complainants must be willing to testify in court and be able to verify that the information contained in the declaration is true and correct.

For more information, please contact a Seattle Animal Shelter representative at (206) 386-PETS (7387).

Seattle Municipal Code
(As it pertains to animal noise)

9.25.084 Offense relating to control

D. It is unlawful for the owner to:

(2.) Permit any animal to bark, whine, howl or otherwise vocalize in violation of Chapter 25.08 of the Seattle Municipal Code(Noise Ordinance 106360) or its successor ordinance;

25.08.280 Public Nuisance Noise

"Public Nuisance Noise" means any unreasonable sound which either annoys, injures, interferes with or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of an entire community or neighborhood, although the extent of the damage may be unequal.

25.08.500 Public Disturbance Noise

It is unlawful for any person knowingly to cause or make, or for any person in possession of property knowingly to allow to originate from the property, unreasonable noise which disturbs another, and to refuse or intentionally fail to cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by a police officer. Unreasonable noise shall include the following sounds or combination of sounds:

A. Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by an animal, except that such sounds made in animal shelters, commercial kennels, veterinary hospitals, pet shops, or pet kennels licensed under and in compliance with Chapter 9.08 of this Code shall be exempt.