Dogs are everywhere in Scottsdale: on the Indian Bend Wash path, at the dog parks, in apartment elevators, and behind a lot of backyard gates. Most of them never cause a problem. But when a dog does bite someone, the questions come fast. Who pays? Does the homeowners or renters policy respond? And what does Arizona law actually say?
This guide is educational, in plain language. It is not legal advice and does not replace your own policy wording. It is written by Colby Neal / Neal Insurance Agency, not by Farmers corporate. We will not invent premiums or claim amounts on this page. The Arizona rules below come from the Arizona Revised Statutes, the Scottsdale Revised Code, and an Arizona Court of Appeals decision; sources are listed at the bottom. If you are dealing with a real bite and a legal deadline, talk to an Arizona attorney.
Call or text (480) 860-0860 / text the same number with “dog” in the first line and a photo of your homeowners or renters declarations page if you want us to check what you have. Neal Insurance Agency · 10601 N Hayden Rd, Ste 112, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 · Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm · weekends by appointment
Arizona’s dog bite law: strict liability
Arizona has a specific dog bite statute. Under ARS 11-1025, the owner of a dog that bites a person who is in a public place, or lawfully in a private place (including the dog owner’s own property), is liable for the damages the person suffers, “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of its viciousness.”
- No “first bite” pass. It does not matter that the dog never bit anyone before or that the owner had no reason to expect it.
- “Lawfully” present matters. Under ARS 11-1026, a person is lawfully on the dog owner’s private property when they are an invitee or guest, or are there performing a duty imposed by state or federal law or by a local ordinance.
- Provocation is a defense. Under ARS 11-1027, proof that the injured person provoked the attack is a defense. The test is whether a reasonable person would expect the conduct or circumstances to be likely to provoke a dog.
- Contact information. ARS 11-1025 also says the person who owns or is responsible for the dog must give the owner’s contact information to the person who was bitten.
- Breed and the courts. ARS 11-1025 says a dog’s breed may not be considered in findings by a court, administrative law judge, hearing officer, arbitrator, or other legal decision-maker on whether the dog is aggressive or vicious or has created liability. That text is about legal decision-makers. It does not describe how insurance companies underwrite.
A bite is not the only way a dog creates liability. Under ARS 11-1020, injury to a person or damage to property by a dog while at large is the full responsibility of the dog owner or the person responsible for the dog. A dog that knocks over a cyclist or a jogger can be a liability claim even with no bite.
Arizona courts have also said the statute does not replace ordinary negligence law; an injured person can bring a statutory claim and a common-law claim at the same time (discussed in Murdock v. Balle, below).
The one-year and two-year deadlines
Two different time limits can apply to the same bite:
- The statutory (strict liability) claim. ARS 12-541, paragraph 5, gives one year to bring an action “upon a liability created by statute.” In Murdock v. Balle, 144 Ariz. 136 (App. 1985), the Arizona Court of Appeals held that a claim under the dog bite statute (then numbered ARS 24-521) is governed by that one-year limit, and the claim in that case was barred.
- A negligence claim. ARS 12-542 gives two years for injuries done to the person of another.
Deadlines depend on the facts, and other rules can change them. If you were bitten, do not wait on this; ask an Arizona attorney. If your dog bit someone, report it to your insurance company promptly rather than waiting to see if a claim shows up.
Leash and “at large” rules in Scottsdale
- State law. ARS 11-1012 says a vicious dog may not be permitted at large, and a dog in a public park or on public school property has to be physically restrained by a leash or enclosed (with limited exceptions for recognized events).
- Scottsdale. Scottsdale Revised Code Sec. 4-39 says no dog may be at large. A dog has to be confined to the owner’s property or, when off the property, on a leash no longer than six feet and directly under the owner’s physical control.
- HOAs and apartment communities often add their own pet rules on top. Those come from your CC&Rs or lease, not from your insurance policy.
Living in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, or unincorporated Maricopa County? Check your own city or county code; the rules are similar but not identical.
How a homeowners (HO-3) policy usually responds
There is no separate “dog policy” on most homes. When a dog injures someone, two parts of a standard homeowners policy usually come into play:
- Personal liability — can help pay for injuries to other people that you are legally responsible for, plus your legal defense, up to the limit on your declarations page. On many policies this applies whether the bite happens at your house or away from it, such as on a walk or at a park. The form matters, so check yours.
- Medical payments to others — a smaller coverage that can help with a guest’s medical bills after a minor injury, often without anyone having to prove fault.
Things to know before you count on it:
- Your own household is usually not covered for liability or medical payments. If the dog bites your own child, that is typically a health insurance matter, not a homeowners liability claim.
- Animal exclusions and limits vary by carrier. Some policies exclude animal liability entirely, some exclude specific dogs by name or breed, some cap animal claims at a lower limit, and some exclude a dog once it has a bite history. Read the exclusions and endorsements, not just the declarations page.
- Business use is different. Breeding, boarding, dog sitting, grooming, or training for pay can fall outside a homeowners policy. Tell us if any of that happens at the house.
- Disclose the dog. Most applications ask about dogs, breed, and bite history. An undisclosed dog can turn into a coverage problem at the worst possible moment.
If you also have a pool or trampoline, the liability conversation overlaps; see pool & spa liability insurance in Scottsdale.
Breed restrictions: what we will and won’t say
Some insurance companies restrict or decline certain breeds or mixes. Others look mainly at the individual dog and its history. Lists differ from company to company and change over time, so we will not publish any carrier’s breed list on this page. What we can do is ask the right questions up front:
- Breed or mix (your best honest description), age, and size
- Any bite, attack, or animal-control history
- Any vicious or dangerous dog designation
- Training or certification, if any
Then we match the dog to a policy that will actually cover it. If Farmers is not the right fit for the dog, we look at other markets through Kraft Lake and tell you which path we are on.
Renters with dogs (HO-4)
Your landlord’s policy is for the building and the landlord’s own liability. It is not there to pay for your dog biting a neighbor. A renters (HO-4) policy usually includes the same two coverages — personal liability and medical payments to others — with the same kinds of animal exclusions and limits.
- Read the lease insurance section. Many Valley leases and property managers require a minimum liability limit, ask to be listed as an interested party, or have their own pet or breed rules.
- Roommates and dogs. If your roommate owns the dog and you are not on the same policy, find out whose policy is supposed to cover it.
- Moving? Send us the new lease’s pet and insurance pages before move-in day.
Landlords, HOAs, and dogs
If you own a rental, your tenant’s dog is primarily the tenant’s responsibility to insure, but landlords can still be named in a lawsuit. Many landlords require tenants to carry renters liability and to disclose pets. Your own landlord policy is a separate conversation; see Scottsdale landlord insurance.
HOAs can have pet rules in the CC&Rs, and some communities ask residents to carry certain coverage. If your HOA or property manager sent you a letter asking for proof of liability coverage, send it to us and we will tell you what your policy shows.
Where an umbrella fits
A serious bite to a child’s face or a fall that ends in surgery can go past a homeowners or renters liability limit. A personal umbrella adds another layer of liability on top of your home and auto policies. It is not a requirement, and we will not tell you that you must buy a specific amount.
- Underlying limits have to qualify first. The umbrella company usually wants your home or renters and auto liability raised before it will sit on top.
- Check the umbrella’s own animal wording. Some umbrellas follow the underlying policy’s animal exclusions, and some have their own. An umbrella does not automatically fix a dog the home policy excludes.
The longer walkthrough is in our Scottsdale umbrella insurance guide.
If your dog bites someone: what to do
- Get the person help. Separate and secure the dog, and call 911 if the injury is serious.
- Share your contact information. ARS 11-1025 requires the person who owns or is responsible for the dog to give the owner’s contact information to the person bitten.
- Report the bite. Under ARS 11-1014, anyone with direct knowledge of a bite must report it to the county enforcement agent (local animal control) immediately. The same statute sets quarantine rules: an unvaccinated dog that bites must be quarantined for at least ten days at the county pound or, at the owner’s request and expense, a veterinary hospital. A properly vaccinated dog may be quarantined at home with the county agent’s consent.
- Have the rabies vaccination record ready.
- Write down what happened — date, time, place, witnesses — and take photos.
- Call your insurance company or agent promptly. Do not promise to pay bills yourself before you have talked to your insurer.
If you were bitten
- Get medical care and keep the records.
- Get the owner’s name and contact information (the owner is required to give it under ARS 11-1025), plus witness information and photos.
- Report the bite to animal control so the dog’s vaccination status can be checked.
- Keep the deadlines in mind. The statutory claim has a one-year limit; talk to an Arizona attorney early.
The dog owner’s homeowners or renters liability is usually where a claim for the injured person goes. Your own health insurance, and medical payments coverage on the owner’s policy if you were a guest, may also come into play.
How this agency handles it
We are a Farmers Insurance agency. Colby Neal is a third-generation Farmers agent. Farmers is the first conversation for the homeowners, renters, and umbrella file, and dogs are one of the questions we ask on every property quote. If Farmers cannot write the risk — a particular dog, a bite history, or a claims history — we look at other markets through Kraft Lake and tell you which path we are on. English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Licensed in Arizona, California, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Call or text (480) 860-0860 / text the same number. Say “dog” and whether you own or rent. 10601 N Hayden Rd, Ste 112, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Weekdays 8:30am–5:30pm, weekends by appointment.
What to send for a dog liability review
- A photo of your homeowners or renters declarations page (and umbrella, if you have one)
- Each dog’s breed or mix, age, and approximate weight
- Any bite, attack, or animal-control history, said up front
- The pet and insurance pages of your lease or HOA rules, if they apply
- Any paid dog activity at the home (breeding, boarding, sitting, training)
FAQ
Is a dog owner automatically liable for a bite in Arizona? Under ARS 11-1025, the owner of a dog that bites a person who is in a public place, or lawfully in a private place (including the owner’s own property), is liable for the damages, regardless of whether the dog was vicious before or whether the owner knew it. The main defense written into the law is provocation under ARS 11-1027. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does homeowners insurance cover a dog bite? Often the personal liability and medical payments to others parts of a homeowners (HO-3) or renters (HO-4) policy are what respond when your dog injures someone, subject to the policy wording, limits, and exclusions. Some policies limit or exclude animal liability, or exclude specific dogs. Read your own policy or call (480) 860-0860 and we will read it with you.
Can an insurance company refuse to cover my dog because of its breed? Rules vary by carrier. Some insurers ask about breed, size, and bite history, and some restrict or exclude certain dogs or all animal liability. We will not publish any carrier’s list. Tell us the breed and any history up front so we can match the dog to a policy that covers it.
How long does someone have to file a dog bite claim in Arizona? Arizona courts have applied the one-year limit in ARS 12-541(5) to claims under the dog-bite statute (Murdock v. Balle, 1985). A separate negligence claim generally falls under the two-year limit in ARS 12-542. Deadlines depend on the facts, so talk to an Arizona attorney about any specific case.
Does renters insurance cover my dog biting someone? A renters (HO-4) policy usually includes personal liability and medical payments to others, which can respond to a dog bite, subject to the same kinds of animal exclusions and limits as a homeowners policy. The landlord’s policy is for the landlord, not for your dog. Disclose the dog when you buy the policy.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes 11-1025 (liability for dog bites; owner information; breed), 11-1026 (lawful presence on private property), 11-1027 (reasonable provocation as defense), 11-1020 (dogs at large; liability), 11-1012 (dogs not permitted at large), and 11-1014 (biting animals; reporting; quarantine)
- Arizona Revised Statutes 12-541 (one-year limitation; liability created by statute) and 12-542 (two-year limitation; injury to person)
- Murdock v. Balle, 144 Ariz. 136, 696 P.2d 230 (App. 1985)
- Scottsdale Revised Code, Chapter 4 (Animals), Sec. 4-39