News Article | October 20, 2025
Animals
LegalEase
Legal Guidance
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“My neighbor across the street is begging me as a county commissioner to do something about the annoying, barking dog that lives next door. It’s driving her crazy!” |
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Does the commissioners court have authority to penalize a dog owner for a public nuisance due to a dog’s excessive barking?
The Texas Attorney General has opined that counties lack statutory authority to define or declare what constitutes a nuisance. As a result, a commissioners court may not enact an order penalizing dog owners for a dog’s excessive barking. See Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. KP-0491 (2025).
For more information, see our updated publication Keeping the County Scenic.