CA · Strict liability
California dog bite law
California is the model strict-liability state: if a dog bites you in public or while you are lawfully on private property, the owner is liable. You do not prove the dog was “known vicious.”
- Liability
- Strict liability
- Statute
- Cal. Civ. Code § 3342
- Deadline to file
- 2 years · Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1
- Bites only?
- Primarily bites
Section 3342 covers bites, not every knock-down. Other injuries can still be pursued under negligence. The two-year deadline is Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1.
Landlords can be liable when they knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous and had the power to remove it. That is a separate theory from the owner’s statute.
Exceptions insurers will mention
Trespassing; on-duty military and police dogs. Courts also recognize provocation.
What California insurers actually pay
Most recoveries come from a homeowners or renters policy, not from the owner’s checking account. The Insurance Information Institute’s nationwide average dog-related claim was $65,450 in 2025. Facial injuries, children, and surgery sit well above that average. Policy limits — often $100,000 or $300,000 — cap many files before a jury does.
Cities and dangerous-dog overlays
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities keep their own dangerous-dog and leash rules. A local violation can support negligence even when the statewide bite statute is not the cleanest fit.
Compare the national split in strict liability vs one-bite, and confirm your clock on statute of limitations.
Similar liability rules
This page is general information, not legal advice, and is not a substitute for a lawyer licensed in your state. Statutes change. Confirm the current rule and your deadline with counsel before you rely on a date.