Ordinance Reminders

The Golden Valley Police Department upholds the Golden Valley City Code, which comprises the municipal laws adopted by the City Council in the form of ordinances. Outlined here are several areas of the City Code that generate a high level of interest by residents.

• Barking Dogs
• Curfew
• False Alarms
• Junk Cars
• Noise
• On-Street Parking
• Pets
• Repeat Nuisance Calls

Barking Dogs

Dogs or cats must not be allowed to bark or meow excessively, continuously, or in an untimely manner in a way that can be heard from a location outside the building or premises where they are kept. This is defined as noise that occurs repeatedly over at least a five-minute period with a 30-second or less lapse of time between each animal noise.

Curfew

The curfew law is aimed at getting kids off the street who are “up to no good.” If a child is working or engaged in a legitimate activity, curfew would likely not be enforced. Legitimate activities may include attending a school, church, or similar function, or if the child is under the supervision of a responsible adult.

Golden Valley Curfew Hours

	Sunday - Thursday	Friday & Saturday
Under 12	Home by 9 pm	Home by 10 pm
Ages 12-14	Home by 10 pm	Home by 11 pm
Ages 15-17	Home by 11 pm	Home by 12 am

Children cited for curfew violations are given a ticket ($25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense, and a required court appearance for the third offense).

False Alarms

"False Alarm" means an alarm signal eliciting a police or fire response when a situation requiring such a response does not really exist. This is caused when a mechanical failure, alarm malfunction, improper installation, or the inadvertence of the owner of the alarm system or his/her employees or agents activates the alarm system. False alarms do not include alarms caused by climatic conditions such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, utility mishaps, violent conditions or nature, or any other conditions which are clearly beyond the control of the manufacturer, installer, or owner.

An alarm system that reports more than three false alarms to the City in a single year (March 1 - the end of February) will result in the user being charged a fee as follows:

• $75/alarm for each false alarm in excess of three per year
• $125/alarm for each false alarm in excess of 10 per year
• $175/alarm for each false alarm in excess of 15 per year

Junk Cars

A "junk car" is any motor vehicle not in operable condition or properly licensed for operation or that is partially dismantled, used as a source of replacement parts for other vehicles, or kept for scrapping, dismantling, or salvage of any kind.

It is unlawful to park, keep, place, or store any junk car on a public street or on any private lands for more than 12 hours unless it is within a building on private premises.

Noise

It is unlawful for any person to make any loud, unnecessary; or unusual noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or dangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the city.

The use of any machine in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any times with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle, or chamber in which such machine or device is operating and who are voluntary listeners thereto. The operation of any such machine between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet from the building, shall be in violation of this Section.

On-Street Parking

Yes, you can park your car on the street, but not for more than 72 hours (unless the street is posted otherwise).

After a snowfall of at least two inches, parking is prohibited on any public street or alley, and parking may not resume on any such street or alley until it has been plowed from curb to curb.

Repeat Nuisance Calls

The repeat nuisance call service fee was enacted to protect the public safety, health, and welfare and to prevent and abate repeat police service response for nuisance violations.

Nuisance violations are activities, conducts, or conditions occurring on private property that unreasonably annoys, injures, or endangers the safety, health, morals, or comfort of any member of the public. Nuisance activities may include, but are not limited to, loud parties or noise disturbances, barking dogs or dogs at large, disorderly conduct, prostitution, gambling, firearms or dangerous weapons, controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, curfew (allowed by the property owner or occupant), or junk vehicles (allowed by the property owner or occupant after the 14-day grace period has passed).

A service fee of $250 may be imposed upon the owner or occupant of the property if the city has responded to three or more nuisance violations of the same or similar nature within a 365-day period. 

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