Arizona Dog Bite Law

How dog bite liability works in Arizona

Arizona modeled its dog bite statute on Illinois law, and the courts have read it strictly ever since⁸. In Massey v. Colaric, 151 Ariz. 65 (1986), the Arizona Supreme Court put it in one line: "In Arizona dogs do not get 'one free bite'." The owner is "virtually an insurer" of the dog's conduct, and provocation is the only defense⁷.

Two statutes do the work. A.R.S. § 11-1025 covers bites, wherever the victim was lawfully present, including the owner's own yard^1,2. A.R.S. § 11-1020 covers any injury or property damage caused by a dog while at large, such as a cyclist knocked down or a rider thrown when loose dogs spook a horse, as in Massey^4,7. "At large" means neither fenced in nor on a leash⁵.

The trap is the deadline. Because the statute created a liability the common law did not have, the Court of Appeals held in Murdock v. Balle, 144 Ariz. 136 (App. 1985), that a claim under it is governed by the one-year limit for liabilities created by statute, not the two-year personal-injury limit^6,11. A negligence claim survives on the longer clock, but it needs proof of carelessness or of what the owner knew^9,12.

Arizona has also moved breed out of the courtroom. Under a 2022 law, no judge, hearing officer or arbitrator may consider a dog's breed in deciding whether it is vicious or whether the owner is liable, and homeowners insurers may not use breed as the sole underwriting factor^1,21,22. A 2025 amendment added a duty to give the person bitten the owner's contact information²³. For other states, see the national table.

The Arizona dog bite statute

The owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place, or lawfully on private property including the owner's own, is liable for the damages, "regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of its viciousness"¹. A visitor is lawfully present as an invitee or guest, or when performing a duty under state, federal or local law, such as delivering mail². "Owner" means anyone who keeps the dog for more than six consecutive days, and keeping requires care, custody or control^5,10. A companion statute, § 11-1020, makes the owner or person responsible fully liable for any injury or property damage caused by a dog at large⁴.

• Law: A.R.S. § 11-1025 (Liability for dog bites); last changed 2025: Laws 2025, ch. 137 (SB 1241) added the duty to give the victim the owner's contact information
• Injuries covered: Bites only
• Where: Public places, or lawfully on private property
• Who is liable: The owner
• Damages: All damages, under the ordinary rules

Other ways to prove liability

The statute does not replace the common law; a plaintiff may plead both^6,9. The common-law strict liability claim requires proof that the dog had dangerous propensities abnormal to its class and that the owner knew or had reason to know of them; in James v. Cox, 130 Ariz. 152 (App. 1981), a dog with a sensitive head that had never bitten anyone did not qualify⁹. Ordinary negligence is also available, and a violation of a leash law, such as the state rule that a vicious dog may not be at large or the leash requirement in public parks and school grounds, can support it²⁶. These theories matter mainly when the one-year statutory deadline has passed, when the victim was not lawfully present, or when the defendant is not the dog's statutory owner^6,10.

Defenses owners raise

Provocation

Provocation by the injured person is a complete defense to the statutory claim, judged by whether a reasonable person would expect the conduct or circumstances to be likely to provoke a dog³. Fault is not required: in Toney v. Bouthillier, 129 Ariz. 402 (App. 1981), a three-year-old who had struck the dog could be found to have provoked it⁸.

Trespassing

Section 11-1025 protects only people in a public place or lawfully on private property¹. A trespasser on the owner's land has no statutory claim and must prove negligence or the owner's knowledge of a dangerous propensity instead^2,9.

Police dogs

A government agency is not liable under §§ 11-1025 or 11-1020 when its police or military dog bites while defending itself from harassment or helping an officer catch or hold a suspect, investigate a crime, serve a warrant or defend someone¹. The shield applies only if the agency has a written policy on dog use, and never to a bystander who was not involved or suspected¹. More at police dog bites.

Assumption of risk

Assumption of risk is not a defense to either dog statute: Massey v. Colaric held it was error to instruct the jury on it, because the legislature left provocation as the only defense⁷.

Other defense

Breed is off the table for both sides. Since 2022, a court, hearing officer or arbitrator may not consider a dog's actual or perceived breed in deciding whether it is aggressive or vicious or whether the owner is liable^1,22.

Shared fault

Pure comparative fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505).

In a negligence claim, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, however large, but never barred, unless you caused the injury intentionally, wilfully or wantonly¹⁴. Arizona's constitution makes contributory negligence and assumption of risk jury questions in all cases¹⁸. For the statutory claim, Massey v. Colaric says contributory negligence and assumption of risk are superseded and provocation is the only defense⁷. Fault is still divided among defendants: liability is several, and "fault" includes strict liability¹⁵. No published Arizona decision found for this page decides whether a victim's own carelessness short of provocation reduces a § 11-1025 award; the court in Spirlong v. Browne (2014) left that question open¹⁰.

How the five fault systems compare: provocation, trespass and shared fault.

Arizona dog bite statute of limitations

1 year (A.R.S. § 12-541(5); § 12-542)

A claim under the dog bite statute must be filed within one year of the bite, because it is a liability created by statute^6,11; a common-law negligence claim has two years, and a wrongful-death claim two years from the death¹². A claim against a city, county, school district or other public entity needs a written notice of claim, with a specific settlement amount, within 180 days, and suit within one year^16,17.

Children. The time a child is under 18 is not counted, so a bitten child has until age 19 for a statutory claim and age 20 for negligence^11,12,13. A minor's notice of claim against a public entity is due within 180 days after turning 18¹⁷.

Work out your own date with the dog bite claim checker, or compare deadlines in every state.

Damages

The statute makes the owner liable for "damages suffered by the person bitten": medical bills, future treatment, lost earnings, pain and suffering, scarring and emotional distress¹. Arizona's constitution forbids any statutory limit on the amount recovered for injuries, so there is no cap¹⁹. Punitive damages require clear and convincing proof of an "evil mind", such as conscious disregard of a substantial risk of serious harm, under Linthicum v. Nationwide Life Ins. Co., 150 Ariz. 326 (1986)²⁰. No Arizona statute doubles or trebles damages for a dog bite; § 11-1020 also covers damage to property, including a pet hurt by a dog at large⁴.

Landlords and property owners

A landlord is not liable under the dog statutes merely for letting a tenant keep a dog. In Spirlong v. Browne, 236 Ariz. 146 (App. 2014), a homeowner who rented rooms to the dog's owner was not the dog's statutory owner, because "keeping" a dog requires care, custody or control, not just housing it¹⁰. A claim against a landlord therefore runs on ordinary negligence; no published Arizona appellate decision found for this page sets a landlord-specific test. More at landlord liability.

Insurance

Since a 2022 law, a dog's breed may not be the sole factor in homeowners or renters insurance underwriting, actuarial risk decisions or dog questionnaires, for policies issued or renewed after June 30, 2023²¹. The same 2022 bill barred breed evidence in vicious-dog and liability findings²². Insurers may still weigh breed with other factors, such as a bite history. No Arizona statute found for this page requires owners of vicious dogs to carry liability insurance; the vicious-animal statutes impose none²⁵.

More on coverage, breed exclusions and renters policies: dog bite insurance.

The one-year deadline most websites miss

Many summaries give Arizona a flat two-year deadline for dog bites. That is the limit for personal-injury claims in general, under A.R.S. § 12-542¹². But the claim most bite victims rely on, strict liability under § 11-1025, has only one year. In Murdock v. Balle, 144 Ariz. 136 (App. 1985), the plaintiff sued 21 months after the bite. The Court of Appeals held that the dog bite statute created a new cause of action, unknown to the common law, so the one-year limit for "a liability created by statute" in § 12-541 applied, and the claim was barred^6,11. A negligence claim is not lost after one year, but it requires proof that the owner was careless or knew the dog was dangerous, which is exactly what the statute spares a victim from proving^9,12. A child's clock does not start until 18¹³. Compare the statute of limitations by state.

Bite reports and quarantine

Any person with direct knowledge of an animal bite, including the victim, the owner, a doctor or a witness, must report it to the county enforcement agent (animal control) immediately²⁴. In Maricopa County, Animal Care and Control takes reports by phone or online and then investigates³³.

An unvaccinated dog or cat that bites a person is quarantined for at least 10 days from the day of the bite, in the county pound or, at the owner's request and expense, a veterinary hospital²⁴. A properly vaccinated dog may be quarantined at home with the county's consent and on its terms²⁴. The Department of Health Services publishes the state's rabies control and bite management manual³⁴. A dog impounded for a bite goes home only if it was licensed, is spayed or neutered (with a microchip), or the owner pays a $50 recovery fee, among other exceptions²⁴.

Dangerous-dog hearings, euthanasia orders and criminal penalties are covered on Arizona dangerous dog law.

Questions about Arizona dog bite law

Is Arizona a one-bite state?

No. Under A.R.S. § 11-1025, the owner is liable for a first bite regardless of the dog's past behavior or the owner's knowledge¹. The Arizona Supreme Court said in 1986 that "in Arizona dogs do not get 'one free bite'"⁷. See strict liability states.

Can I sue if a dog knocked me over but did not bite?

Yes, if the dog was at large, meaning neither on a leash nor inside an enclosure. A.R.S. § 11-1020 makes the owner or person responsible fully liable for any injury or property damage a dog at large causes^4,5. If the dog was leashed or fenced, you would need to prove negligence or the owner's knowledge of a dangerous propensity⁹.

I was bitten at a friend's house. Am I covered?

Yes. The statute covers people lawfully on private property, including the dog owner's own property, and a guest or invitee is lawfully present^1,2. The owner's homeowners or renters policy usually responds to such claims; in Arizona, breed alone cannot be the basis for that coverage decision²¹.

Does the owner have to give me their information?

Yes. Since a 2025 amendment, the owner or person responsible for the dog must give the person bitten the owner's contact information^1,23. The bite must also be reported to animal control immediately, which creates an official record²⁴.

Can a child provoke a dog under Arizona law?

Yes. Provocation is judged by whether a reasonable person would expect the conduct to provoke a dog, not by the child's fault³. In Toney v. Bouthillier, the court held that a three-year-old who struck the dog could have provoked the bite⁸. See provocation and trespass and child dog bites.

Will my dog be put down after biting someone in Arizona?

Not automatically. After the 10-day observation the dog is released if it shows no sign of rabies^24,33. Euthanasia requires a court order after a hearing at which the dog is found vicious, and the owner can appeal to the superior court^24,25. See my dog bit someone.

Official contacts

Sources

1. A.R.S. § 11-1025, Liability for dog bites, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
2. A.R.S. § 11-1026, Lawful presence on private property defined, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
3. A.R.S. § 11-1027, Reasonable provocation as defense, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
4. A.R.S. § 11-1020, Dogs; liability, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
5. A.R.S. § 11-1001, Definitions, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
6. Murdock v. Balle, 144 Ariz. 136, 696 P.2d 230 (App. 1985), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
7. Massey v. Colaric, 151 Ariz. 65, 725 P.2d 1099 (1986), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
8. Toney v. Bouthillier, 129 Ariz. 402, 631 P.2d 557 (App. 1981), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
9. James v. Cox, 130 Ariz. 152, 634 P.2d 964 (App. 1981), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
10. Spirlong v. Browne, 236 Ariz. 146, 336 P.3d 779 (App. 2014), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
11. A.R.S. § 12-541, One-year limitation (liability created by statute), Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
12. A.R.S. § 12-542, Two-year limitation (injury to person), Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
13. A.R.S. § 12-502, Effect of minority or insanity, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
14. A.R.S. § 12-2505, Comparative negligence, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
15. A.R.S. § 12-2506, Joint and several liability abolished; apportionment of fault, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
16. A.R.S. § 12-821, General limitation; public employee, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
17. A.R.S. § 12-821.01, Claim against public entity, public school or public employee, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
18. Arizona Constitution art. 18, § 5, Contributory negligence and assumption of risk, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
19. Arizona Constitution art. 18, § 6, Recovery of damages for injuries, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
20. Linthicum v. Nationwide Life Ins. Co., 150 Ariz. 326, 723 P.2d 675 (1986), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
21. A.R.S. § 20-1510, Homeowner's or renter's insurance; dog breeds, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
22. House Bill 2323 (2022), homeowner's insurance; dogs; nondiscrimination, Senate engrossed text, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
23. Laws 2025, ch. 137 (SB 1241), animal bites; owner contact information, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
24. A.R.S. § 11-1014, Biting animals; reporting; handling and euthanasia, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
25. A.R.S. § 11-1029, Hearing on disposition of vicious animals; forfeiture, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
26. A.R.S. § 11-1012, Dogs not permitted at large, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
27. A.R.S. § 11-1014.01, Aggressive dogs; reasonable care requirements, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
28. A.R.S. § 13-1208, Assault; vicious animals; classification, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
29. A.R.S. § 13-707, Misdemeanors; sentencing, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
30. A.R.S. § 13-802, Fines for misdemeanors, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
31. A.R.S. § 9-499.04, Animal control officers; regulation of dogs, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
32. A.R.S. § 11-1005, Powers and duties of board of supervisors, Arizona State Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
33. Victims' Rights: dog bite investigation and quarantine, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Checked 17 October 2026.
34. Epidemiology & Disease Control: Rabies, Arizona Department of Health Services. Checked 17 October 2026.