Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

Usually, yes. The personal liability part of a homeowners or renters policy pays when the policyholder or someone in their household is legally responsible for hurting another person, and that includes most dog bites unless the policy excludes the dog. In California you generally have two years from the bite to sue the owner (CCP 335.1).

Which part of a homeowners policy pays for a dog bite?

Two coverages in a standard policy can respond when a dog bites someone:

• Personal liability. The California Department of Insurance describes it as coverage for when “you or a resident of your household are legally responsible for injury to others” (CDI). The Texas Department of Insurance says liability pays medical bills, lost wages and other costs for people the policyholder is legally responsible for injuring, plus court costs if the policyholder is sued (TDI). Washington’s insurance regulator says most policies carry at least $100,000 of liability coverage (OIC).
• Medical payments to others. A smaller amount, at least $1,000 in most Washington policies, pays reasonable medical bills of guests hurt on the property.

Liability coverage is where a serious bite claim gets paid, and it only pays when the owner is legally responsible. That is why state dog bite law matters. In California, the owner is liable when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog” (Civil Code 3342; CACI 463). Washington has the same kind of rule, including bites on the owner’s own property (RCW 16.08.040). Texas has no statute like those two, so a Texas claim usually rests on proof that the owner was careless or knew the dog was dangerous.

Can an insurer exclude certain breeds or a specific dog?

Yes. The Texas Department of Insurance warns that “some policies exclude certain breeds” and tells owners to check the policy or call the company (TDI). The research center of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports that some insurers still use breed lists when writing homeowners and renters liability policies, and it names New York and Nevada as states that limit using breed alone. California, Texas and Washington are not on that list (NAIC). The same NAIC page cites Insurance Information Institute data: in 2024, insurers paid $1.57 billion on nearly 23,000 dog-related injury claims nationwide. That is national data about the industry and says nothing about what one claim is worth.

An exclusion can also be written for one dog, for example a dog with a bite history, or the owner may have bought a policy with a separate animal liability limit. If the insurer denies the claim under an exclusion, the owner is still personally liable under the state rules above. The question becomes whether the owner has other coverage or assets.

Texas adds one insurance rule of its own. Once a dog has been found dangerous under chapter 822, its owner must, within 30 days, restrain it and carry liability insurance or show financial responsibility of at least $100,000 for bodily injury caused by the dog (Health and Safety Code 822.042). When a Texas dog had a prior dangerous dog finding, ask for proof of that coverage.

Does umbrella insurance cover dog bites?

Often, yes. A personal umbrella policy sits on top of the homeowners or renters policy and pays after its limit is used up. The Texas Department of Insurance says an umbrella policy “helps if your home insurance doesn’t cover dog bite injuries or doesn’t pay enough,” and that umbrella policies usually pay up to $1 million or more (TDI). Washington’s regulator lists umbrella policies as a way “to extend your coverage limits” (OIC).

An umbrella is a separate contract with its own exclusions. Some umbrella policies follow the homeowners policy’s animal exclusions and some do not, so the only way to know is to read it. In a severe bite with surgery or scarring, the umbrella can be the difference between a claim limited to the homeowners limit and one that covers the full loss. Ask the owner, in writing, whether they carry one.

What if the owner rents, or the dog lives with your family?

Renters. A renters policy includes the same kind of liability protection. Washington’s regulator says renter liability “protects you from claims other people make against you if you’re found legally responsible for injuring someone,” and that pet owners should consider it for exactly this reason (OIC). In California, renters liability is generally subject to a $100,000 minimum, according to the CDI guide cited above. Texas describes renters liability as protection when someone is injured in the renter’s home (TDI).

Landlords. The landlord’s policy generally protects the landlord’s interest in the building, and Washington’s regulator says it does not give the tenant liability protection. A landlord can sometimes be responsible for a tenant’s dog under narrower rules; our California dog bite law guide explains when.

Family members. Medical payments coverage “does not apply to your injuries or injuries of those who reside in your household,” the CDI guide says. Some policies may also limit liability claims between people who live together, so when a dog belonging to a parent or sibling you live with bites you, the exclusions page decides the claim. When the relative lives in a different home, their policy is usually available like anyone else’s, and the claim is paid by the insurer, not out of the relative’s pocket.

Who files the claim, and how long do you have?

The dog owner reports the bite to their own insurer, because the policy requires prompt notice. TDI tells policyholders to tell the company “as soon as possible” and notes that some policies have a one-year deadline (TDI). You, or your lawyer, then open a claim with that insurer as the injured person. If the insurer will not pay a fair amount, the lawsuit is filed against the owner, and in California a person who wins a judgment can then sue the insurer on the policy to collect it (Insurance Code 11580).

Deadlines to sue the owner:

A dog owned by a city or county, such as a police dog, has no homeowners policy and follows government claim rules. California requires a claim within six months (Gov. Code 911.2). Washington requires a claim and a 60-day wait before suing a local government (RCW 4.96.020).

What to do now

1. Get the owner’s full name, address and the name of their insurance company.
2. Ask whether the owner rents or owns, and whether they have an umbrella policy.
3. Photograph the wounds, the place of the bite and the dog.
4. Keep every medical bill and note missed work.
5. Before giving a recorded statement to the owner’s insurer, talk to a lawyer.
6. Request the policy limits and any exclusion letter in writing.
7. Calendar the deadline, and the six-month deadline if a California public agency owned the dog.

Talk to us

If someone else’s dog bit you or your child, call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 for a free, confidential case review in English or Spanish. We can find the policy and deal with the insurer. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.

Common questions

Related pages

Personal Injury Questions · Dog bite lawyer · California dog bite law · What is the payout for a dog bite? · What is a policy limit? · Personal injury questions · Law Blog

Important: This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Laws change and every case is different; talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: 2026-11-13.