At a glance
- Who handles it
- 311, which passes it to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
- The rule
- Barking easily heard from a home for 10 minutes straight from 7am to 10pm, or 5 minutes straight from 10pm to 7am.
- How to report
- Online at NYC311, or call 311.
- What happens first
- The DEP sends the owner a letter within 10 days.
- Fines
- $70 for a first offence in the DEP’s penalty schedule, rising with repeat offences.
The rule
The NYC Noise Code bans unreasonable animal noise at a residential property for 10 minutes or more in a row between 7am and 10pm, or 5 minutes or more in a row between 10pm and 7am. NYC311 puts it simply: the DEP may take action if the noise can easily be heard from a residential address for that long.
It covers dogs and other domestic animals. The DEP doesn’t investigate wild animals. For a dog in NYCHA public housing, NYC311 sends you to the NYCHA Borough Management Office instead.
Before you report
- Talk to the owner, or leave a note. The barking dog letter generator writes a friendly one.
- Note when it happens. A few days on the printable bark diary show whether it passes the 10 and 5 minute marks, and when.
How to report it
- Go to Noise from Dog or Other Animal on NYC311 and choose “Report noise from a barking dog”.
- Or call 311, or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675).
- Give the address where the dog is barking and your own mailing address. The DEP needs both to respond, and your details are not shared with the owner.
What happens next
- The DEP sends the owner a letter within 10 days, with tips on how to curb the barking.
- It also sends you a letter explaining how to follow up if the barking carries on.
- If a letter has already gone to the owner, the DEP may carry out a noise inspection.
- If an inspector witnesses a breach of the Noise Code, a summons may be issued.
After an inspection you can ask the DEP for a Noise Inspection Report. NYC311 explains how: you need the service request number and the inspection date.
Fines
The DEP’s penalty schedule lists Administrative Code § 24-235, “permitting animal to cause unreasonable noise”, at $70 for a first offence, $140 for a second and $210 for a third. Its default amounts are higher: $175, $350 and $525.
Free mediation
If you would rather sort it out together, NYC311 lists free mediation for complaints between neighbours about noise. It is free, confidential and voluntary, and it doesn’t waive anyone’s right to go to court.
When to call 911
Barking goes to 311. NYC311 says to call 911 to report animal abuse in progress.
Keep a record
A phone can keep the log while you sleep. Left near a shared wall or window, DogQuiet logs each bark it hears with the time, how long it lasted and a short clip, and makes a PDF report. It is an approximate record, not proof: it can miss a bark or log another sound. See how to keep a bark diary for your own notes.
Other places
The general steps, the evidence officials ask for and when to call the police are in how to report a barking dog.
Sources
Official pages this guide is based on, all read in October 2026:
- NYC311. Noise from Dog or Other Animal. portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01087
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection. New York City Noise Code Fact Sheet. nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/environment/education/nyc-noise-code-fact-sheet.pdf
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Noise Code Penalty Schedule. nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/air/noise/noise-code-penalty-schedule.pdf
- NYC311. Mediation. portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01016