French mayor issues bylaw banning barking dogs at night

A mayor in western France has issued a decree that sees owners of dogs that bark late at night risk a fine of up to €135. 

The mayor of Boivre-la-Vallée (Vienne) Marie-Hélène Audebert instituted the bylaw on July 24 in light of several complaints over persistent barking in the commune. 

She says it was exacerbated by the several heatwaves already experienced in the commune this summer as residents wanted to leave their windows open overnight but were kept awake by barking.

“Owners, keepers, or handlers of dogs are required to take all necessary measures to prevent prolonged or repeated barking, whether by day or by night,” said the commune on social media pages following the implementation of the bylaw. 

“You cannot stop a dog from barking, but when it is recurrent, prolonged, and happens at night, it becomes unbearable for the neighbours,” said the mayor to local media outlet Ici. 

“It has become unbearable since the heatwave. Residents are sleeping with their windows open… Night-time barking, which might have been tolerable before, no longer is.” 

The video below from a local resident shows dogs barking at 04:45 in the morning.

Reduction in complaints 

The mayor said the bylaw was “symbolic yet regulatory,” and that fines could be imposed on owners. 

“I don't think a fine is the best deterrent. The idea is really to raise awareness about the need for good neighbourly relations and tolerance. We are never happy about having to issue such orders.” 

As of August 10, however, no fines had been issued, and complaints over night-time barking in the commune had fallen. 

Noisy dogs and neighbour complaints

While such a ban on dogs barking is uncommon, it is by no means unique and similar bylaws have previously been passed in France. 

Indeed, noisy dogs are often the basis of neighbourhood disputes in France.

Article R1336-5 of France’s public health code states “no particular sound must, by its duration, repetition or intensity, cause harm or break the neighbourhood’s peacefulness or disturb a person’s well-being in a public or a private area.” 

This includes machinery, human, and animal noises, including barking dogs. 

These rules generally last throughout the daytime (07:00 - 22:00), with overnight rules being stricter and covered by article R623-2 of France’s penal code.

During the period from 22:00 - 07:00, noises do not need to be repetitive to be classed as a neighbourhood disturbance, and in theory even a single bark can be classified as such. 

Owners can be fined €135 for both day- and night-time noise complaints, potentially higher if the disturbance happens several times or the issue is taken to court.

In the case of Boivre-la-Vallée, the bylaw allows the €135 fine to be issued directly, without needing to go through any additional processes. 

If you are kept up by a neighbour’s dog barking, you should first seek an amicable solution, before turning to a conciliateur de justice before the bailiffs or police.

It is only after following these steps you can make a judicial complaint, which itself will require significant evidence. Read more about the steps in our article here. 

If you are the owner of a dog making noise at night, you should be aware of the risk of neighbours making such complaint.