Arizona Dog-Bite Laws

Dogs are beloved companions, but ownership comes with significant legal responsibilities. Arizona's strict liability law makes dog owners automatically responsible for most bites inflicted by their pets. In addition, owners who know their dogs are dangerous, or who disregard public safety rules like leash laws, are held to a higher legal standard. On the other hand, state law generally assumes that trespassers and people who provoke dogs are responsible for their own injuries.

This article will tell you what you need to understand about dog-bite lawsuits in Arizona. We'll also cover the rules owners should know about the state's approach to potentially vicious or aggressive dogs.

Suing Under Arizona's Strict Liability Dog-Bite Laws

Arizona's civil code includes laws specifically covering dogs and their owners. If you've been injured by a dog in Arizona, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the owner based on these rules.

Arizona's dog-bite statute uses a strict liability standard. An owner can be held liable any time their dog bites someone, even if they didn't have any reason to think their dog could be dangerous. Note that this rule applies only to bites, not to other injuries caused by a dog. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1025 (2025).)

The same strict liability standard applies to injuries caused by a dog that's "at large." That's the legal term in Arizona for a dog that's not on a leash, and also not confined to an enclosed area like a fenced-in yard. If an at-large dog causes an injury, the owner or the person who was responsible for the dog (for example, a dog-walker or a friend who was pet-sitting) can be held liable. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1020 (2025).)

Importantly, the law covering at-large dogs applies to injuries other than bites. For example, it would cover a sprained ankle or broken wrist suffered by someone who was knocked off their feet by a large and overly-friendly dog. It also applies to property damage caused by the at-large dog.

Suing a Dog Owner for Negligence

Arizona's dog-bite statute doesn't cover every situation in which someone is injured by a dog. Under the state's common law, a victim may also be able to sue a dog's owner for negligence. Owners could be liable for negligence under the state's so-called "one-bite" rule, or under a rule called negligence per se.

Liability Under the One-Bite Rule.

If an owner knows (or should know) that their dog has a dangerous habit or tendency, and the dog hurts someone because of that tendency, then the owner is strictly liable for that harm. This is a version of the "one-bite rule." The one-bite rule only applies if certain conditions are met.

The dog's dangerous tendencies must be "abnormal." A tendency to run around, or to bite in response to being kicked, would be considered normal behavior for a dog. On the other hand, a tendency to attack or bite without provocation is abnormal, and could make an owner liable under the one-bite rule.

The owner must know about the dog's dangerous tendencies. Imagine that a dog fears strangers and will bite any stranger that tries to pet it. If the dog is otherwise gentle and well-behaved, an owner might not know about their pet's dangerous tendency until they see the behavior. In that situation, the owner would not be liable for the first incident, but would then be on notice and could be liable for future incidents.

James v. Cox, 130 Ariz. 152 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981)

Liability for Negligence Per Se

Under Arizona law, a dog owner could be liable for negligence if they disregard a law designed to preserve public safety. This is an example of a rule called "negligence per se." Under negligence per se, a defendant's decision to disregard the law is proof that they were behaving irresponsibly. (Good v. City of Glendale, 150 Ariz. 218, 221, 722 P.2d 386, 389 (App. 1986).)

This rule can come up if, for example, if an owner has disregarded a local leash law. For example, imagine you live in a town with an ordinance requiring all dogs to be leashed when they're on public property. If an owner lets their dog run around the local park off-leash, and the dog bites someone, then they would be negligent per se. Because they ignored the leash law, they would be liable for the victim's injury even if:

• they had no reason to think their pet was dangerous, or
• they had taken other precautions to protect people from their pet.

What Are Arizona's Laws for Vicious and Aggressive Dogs?

In Arizona the authorities can classify a dog as either "aggressive" or "dangerous" based on its behavior or its propensity for attacking and endangering people. Let's look at the legal impact of these classifications on dogs and their owners.

What Are the Rules for Aggressive Dogs in Arizona?

An "aggressive" dog is one that either:

• has bitten a person or domestic animal without provocation, or
• has a history of attacking people or domestic animals without provocation.

(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1014.01 (2025).)

We'll talk more below about what "provocation" means in Arizona's dog-bite laws. The key point to remember here, though, is that people who own (or are responsible for) aggressive dogs have legal obligations that go beyond what's required of most pet owners. You must take reasonable steps to prevent the dog from escaping the residence or enclosed area where you keep it. And, if you take an aggressive dog off of your property, you must take reasonable precautions to prevent it from attacking people or domestic animals.

Failure to do either of these things is a criminal offense—you could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and penalized with fines or even jail time.

What Are the Rules for Vicious Dogs in Arizona?

A "vicious" dog is one that has "a propensity to attack, to cause injury to or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings without provocation." If a dog is found to be vicious the consequences can be severe both for the owner and the animal.

Owners of vicious dogs in Arizona can face fines and prison time if they fail to control the animal. An owner who fails to take reasonable steps to prevent a vicious dog from escaping its enclosure could be found guilty of a misdemeanor. There are even more severe consequences for the owner if a vicious dog bites, attacks, or injures someone while it's off-leash. In that case, the owner could be found guilty of a felony and face up to two-and-a-half years in prison. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1208 (2025).)

Keep in mind that an owner could face these penalties after a single incident, even if their dog hasn't previously been declared "vicious" by the authorities. It's enough that, before the incident, the owner knew (or should have known) that their dog had a propensity to attack, injure, or endanger people.

Using a dog to hurt someone is a serious crime. It is a felony for an owner to "intentionally or knowingly" cause their dog to inflict serious physical injury on another person. Unless the owner can show that they were acting in self-defense, they could face anywhere from two years to up to nine years in prison. Using a dog this way is a crime even if the animal doesn't meet the state's definition of being "vicious."

If the authorities decide that a dog is vicious it can be taken from its owner and might be euthanized. The police or animal control can impound a dog if they think there's probable cause (in other words, a good reason to believe) that the dog is vicious. But, before an animal can be officially declared vicious and possibly euthanized, owners are entitled to a hearing where they can argue on behalf of their dog. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1029 (2025).)

Does Arizona Ban or Target Specific Dog Breeds for Being Dangerous?

Arizona, unlike some states, does not classify certain dogs (such as pit bulls) as vicious or dangerous based on their breed. In fact, several state laws prohibit using a dog's breed against the animal or its owner. For example, courts, judges and other officials cannot take a dog's breed into account when determining whether:

• the animal is aggressive or vicious, or
• its owner or handler is liable for the animal's behavior.

(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1025(B) (2025).)

Arizona law also:

• prohibits cities and towns from singling out specific breeds in their animal control regulations (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 9-499.04(C) (2025)), and
• prohibits insurers from using a dog's breed as the sole factor when making underwriting or actuarial decisions. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 20-1510 (2025).)

What Defenses Do Owners Have to a Dog-Bite Injury Claim?

Arizona dog owners can raise two defenses to a dog-bite injury claim.

The first defense is that the injured person was trespassing when the dog attacked them. Arizona's dog-bite statute only applies if the victim was:

• in or on a public place, or
• lawfully in or on a private place (this covers, for example, invited guests and mail carriers).

(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1025 (2025); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1026 (2025).)

It might still be possible for a trespasser to win a dog-bite lawsuit, but it would require seriously bad behavior by the owner (for example, siccing an attack dog on someone who was cutting across the property).

The second defense to a dog-bite lawsuit in Arizona is provocation. As you've seen already, many of the rules for dogs in Arizona—including the state's main dog-bite law—make clear that the dog's bad behavior must be unprovoked.

Arizona law doesn't have a specific definition for "provocation," or a list of actions people should avoid. Instead, the law just says that provocation is anything a reasonable person would expect to provoke a dog. This means that whether a dog's been provoked has to be decided on a case-by-case basis. But it's safe to assume that Arizona law won't be sympathetic to a plaintiff who was harassing, chasing, or abusing a dog before they were bitten. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1027 (2025).)

What Damages Could a Victim Receive in a Dog-Bite Lawsuit?

If you file a dog-bite lawsuit in Arizona your case will follow the same general rules that apply to any personal injury lawsuit in Arizona. If the dog's owner (or handler) is found liable for your your injuries then they (or their insurance company) would have to pay to cover your damages. You could be compensated for economic damages like medical bills and time missed at work, as well as non-economic damages like any "pain and suffering" caused by the incident.

Of course, not every dog-bite incident will result in significant consequences. If the incident wasn't traumatic and the injuries were relatively minor, it makes sense to consider whether a lawsuit is worth the time and effort.

Arizona's Filing Deadlines for Dog-Bite Lawsuits

Every state has statutes of limitations that impose deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In Arizona there are two statutes of limitations to be aware of for dog-bite cases. You have:

• one year to file a lawsuit based on Arizona's strict liability dog-bite laws, and
• two years to file a lawsuit based on the argument that the owner was negligent.

(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-541 (2023); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 (2023).)

Courts only extend these deadlines in exceptional circumstances, so if you've been injured by a dog you should plan on moving quickly if you might want to pursue a lawsuit.

Take the Next Steps After a Dog Bite

Whether you've been injured by someone else's dog, or have concerns about a problem involving your pet, you should make sure you understand your legal rights and options. In some situations, it might make sense to handle things yourself. But if the stakes are high—for example, you've been seriously injured, or you're at risk of losing your pet—it may be helpful to consult with an attorney who has experience with dog-bite and animal law cases.