02-05-2025
Dogs barking 15+ minutes is now unlawful in Clarksburg
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — The Clarksburg City Council voted to amend and approve a change to its Noisy Dog Ordinance.
During the city council meeting on Thursday, Councilman Wayne Worth moved to amend the Noisy Dog ordinance to issue a warning for a first offense, which the council approved. The council then approved the ordinance in a 5-2 vote, making it unlawful to keep a dog that creates frequent or prolonged noise disturbances, particularly between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Clarksburg Police Chief Mark Kiddy Spoke during the meeting regarding the ordinance, saying, 'Last year, I researched, we had less than 50 barking dog complaints for the entire year. Which isn't a huge number, you're talking two or three a month. I've been answering barking dog complaints for 40 years, I mean, we go, we ask them, 'hey, keep your dog quiet,' 80% of the time we leave and it's over with.'
The ordinance establishes increased penalties for violations, beginning with a warning for a first offense. A second offense carries a fine of $200 to $500, and a third offense may result in a fine of $300 to $750. It also specifies that violations occurring more than 24 hours apart are treated as separate offenses, but only one violation can be issued to a dog owner within any 24-hour period.
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Mayor Jim Malfregot said during the meeting that the ordinance is 'an important step in helping maintain the peace and quality of life in our neighborhoods.' He further explained that the ordinance provides the parameters for excessive disruptive dogs with the goal of creating a balanced approach that promotes responsible pet ownership.
Under the newly modified ordinance, a dog may not bark continuously for more than 15 minutes during daytime hours, or more than 10 minutes between 10:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. Also, any disruptive barking, regardless of its duration or the time it occurs, may be deemed a disturbance of the peace.
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