Council understands that dogs bark as a means of communication, however, excessive barking can be deemed a nuisance under the Companion Animals Act 1998 No 87. It is important that your dog does not disturb your neighbours right to peace and quiet.

Boredom, attention-seeking, excitement, separation related behaviours, fear, limited socialisation, territorial barking, injury, or health issues are some of the causes of excessive barking. If you are the owner of dog that barks excessively it is important to figure out why your dog is barking to work out a solution. Ensuring your dog has adequate exercise, shelter, enrichment and interaction can assist with reducing boredom barking. You can help reduce guard dog barking by blocking your dogs access to windows or fences.

If you are experiencing a barking dog that you believe to be a nuisance you have several options available to take your own action before contacting Council.

Often the owner of the dog may not be aware of the issue so you should first approach your neighbour in a respectful manner to discuss your concerns. Where this approach does not resolve the issue, the following options are available to you:

• Mediation – The local Community of Justice Centre can assist with mediation and further details regarding this option can be found on the Community of Justice Centre page.

• Noise Abatement Order – The Local Court can issue a Noise Abatement order. Further details regarding this option can be found on the EPA page for Seeking noise abatement orders. 

For Council’s Rangers to investigate requests regarding a barking dog you must provide your details and the address of the barking dog. Anonymous complaints will not be investigated. Council’s Rangers can only take action on barking dog matters where there is broad community noise impact (i.e. multiple residences) which has been verified by independent evidence. Council does not take action on individual complaints from a single residence.

A nuisance order may be issued to a dog owner if nuisance barking can be established by Council. This order requires the owner of the dog to take action to prevent the nuisance barking from occurring. If barking continues, then fines may be issued to the dog owner. Where a nuisance order is issued, it only remains in force for a period of 6 months, at which point the issue needs to be reassessed to determine if the nuisance is continuing.

Where an investigation commences, it may take up to four months to complete. This is due to the need to collect appropriate evidence and issue notices. If Council determines the evidence submitted is not adequate and does not demonstrate the dog barks to a frequency or length of time where the community is significantly impacted, then no further action will be taken. 

For further information see Councils Barking Dog fact sheet and EPA page for Seeking noise abatement orders. 

If you suspect a dog is being mistreated, contact an RSPCA inspector on (02) 9770 7555 or 1300 278 3589, or visit the  RSPCA website.

To report a barking dog matter you can contact us or log a request to Council’s Rangers using Log it/Fix it.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998 a dog may be deemed a nuisance if it:

• Consistently roams or escapes the property where it is usually kept.

• Repeatedly defecates on private property other than the property on which it is ordinarily kept.

• Repeatedly runs at or chases a person, animal (other than vermin) or vehicle.

• Endangers the health of a person or animal (other than vermin).

• Repeatedly causes substantial damage to anything outside the property on which it is ordinarily kept.

If you have a dog in your area causing a nuisance on a regular basis you should first approach the owner to discuss your concerns. If the behaviour does not improve or you are not comfortable with this approach, then you may contact Council. You should provide as much documentation as possible which can include witness details, photos and video footage.

If Council receives sufficient evidence of these behaviours occurring on a regular basis, a dog may be declared a nuisance dog. A nuisance order is a legal restriction that remains in force for a period of 6 months. This order requires the owner of the dog to take action to prevent the behaviour from occurring. If during this time the owner fails to prevent the dog from causing nuisance behaviour, then a fine may be issued to the owner. Continued breaches of the nuisance order may force Council to take legal proceedings.

Please note Council cannot take action if there is insufficient evidence of a specific dog causing nuisance behaviour or if the dog cannot be accurately identified.

To report a nuisance dog matter you can contact us or log a request to Council’s Rangers using Log it/Fix it.

In NSW, cats are not required to be responsibly controlled and are not restricted from entering onto private property or roaming in public places. Cats are only prohibited by law to be seized under certain limited circumstances.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998 a cat may be deemed a nuisance if an owner can be identified and if it:

• Makes persistent, excessive noise that reasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person in any other premises.

• Repeatedly damages anything outside the property on which it is ordinarily kept.

Council may only seize a cat if it is:

• Reasonable and necessary for the protection of any person or animal (other than vermin) from injury or death.

• Within 10 metres of a public food preparation or consumption area.

• In a wildlife protection area.

If you have a cat in your area causing a nuisance on a regular basis you should first approach the cat owner to discuss your concerns. If the behaviour does not improve then you may contact Council. You should provide as much documentation as possible which includes witness details, photos and video footage. Council is unable to assist where a cat is not owned.

If Council receives sufficient evidence of these behaviours occurring on a regular basis, an owned cat may be declared a nuisance cat. A nuisance cat order is a legal restriction that remains in force for a period of 6 months. This order requires the owner of the cat to take action to prevent the behaviour from occurring. If during this time the owner fails to prevent the cat from causing nuisance behaviour then a fine may be issued to the owner. Continued breaches of the nuisance order may force Council to take legal proceedings.

Please note Council cannot take action if there is insufficient evidence of a specific cat causing nuisance behaviour or if the cat cannot be accurately identified.

It is important not to encourage stray cats to stay in your area. Do not feed stray cats and keep all bins closed. You can install cat deterrent fencing or netting around your yard to prevent cats from roaming onto your residence.

To report a nuisance cat matter you can contact us or log a request to Council’s Rangers using Log it/Fix it.