Can You be Evicted for Dog Barking?

You can be evicted for dog barking if the barking is causing a nuisance and disturbing the other tenants. What exactly nuisance barking entails varies by location. In some locales, city regulations may define it as 30 seconds of barking. Other places may not be so specific. It’s also important to note the wording on the lease. Even if it doesn’t specifically mention dog barking, it likely mentions noise and, of course, barking would be included in that.

Avoid Getting Evicted for Dog Barking 

Normally, the only time your landlord is going to be concerned about your dog barking is if another tenant complains. This makes sense, as your landlord has to ensure a comfortable, peaceful environment for all of his tenants.

The landlord has great discretion in how to deal with such complaints. If you’re lucky enough to have a landlord that is a dog lover, he may be more patient. 

Dogs bark and you won’t be able to stop it completely. That being said, part of being a good neighbor is finding a way to stop excessive barking. This could include: 

• Sending the dog to doggy daycare rather than leaving him home alone. 

• Crating him (if he is crate trained) or closing him in one room when you’re gone, so he won’t notice triggers such as someone walking by the window.

• Playing classical music or keeping the TV on to drown out trigger noises and to calm your dog.

• Talking to animal trainer or behaviorist for advice about how to curb barking. 

While you work on correcting the behavior, here are some steps you can take to avoid trouble with your landlord:

• Talk to the Complaining Neighbor: Tell him you’re sorry, that you’re working on it, and ask for patience.

• Talk to the Landlord: Tell your landlord that you’re aware of the issue and explain to him what steps you’re taking to correct it.

• Know Your Rights: If it comes down to you being evicted, he can’t just show up and kick you out or say you must immediately get rid of your dog. The landlord has to go through the proper eviction process. Know what that means in your state. 

Some people end up having to rehome their dog over such an issue, but that should be a last resort. If you can’t find a way to control the barking, then moving may be the best solution. Ask your landlord for more time to find a new place and consider renting a small house rather than an apartment.

If that’s not possible and rehoming becomes a necessity, you can find helpful resources on websites like Rehome where you can create a profile for your pet, get advice about screening adopters, and more.