Injuries from dog bites or other animal attacks. Deadlines range from 1 to 6 years depending on the state.
✓ All 50 states + D.C. — Updated 2026Quick answer: Dog Bite deadlines range from 1 year (Kentucky) to 6 years (North Dakota). Exact periods, citations and exceptions for every state are listed below.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State ↕ | Years to File ↑ | Official Statute | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 1 yr | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.140(1)(a) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year |
| Tennessee | 1 yr | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1) | Gov entities: Notice within 12 months under GTLA |
| Alabama | 2 yr | Ala. Code § 6-2-38 | Gov entities: must file Notice of Claim within 6 months |
| Alaska | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
| Arizona | 2 yr | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 | Gov entities: 180-day notice of claim required |
| California | 2 yr | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 | Gov entities: Gov't Tort Claims Act — 6 months to file claim with agency |
| Colorado | 2 yr | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101 | Gov entities: 182-day notice of claim required |
| Connecticut | 2 yr | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required |
| Delaware | 2 yr | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119 | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| Florida | 2 yr | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a) | ⚠️ Shortened from 4 years to 2 years effective March 24, 2023 |
| Georgia | 2 yr | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 | Gov entities: Ante Litem notice within 12 months for counties, 6 months for municipalities |
| Hawaii | 2 yr | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7 | Gov entities: 6-month notice of claim required |
| Idaho | 2 yr | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) | Gov entities: 180-day notice of claim required |
| Illinois | 2 yr | 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-202 | Gov entities: State must file within 1 year; municipalities within 1 year |
| Indiana | 2 yr | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 | Gov entities: Notice of tort claim within 270 days |
| Iowa | 2 yr | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Gov entities: 60-day notice of claim required |
| Kansas | 2 yr | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year required |
| Louisiana | 2 yr | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.10 | ⚠️ Extended from 1 year to 2 years effective July 1, 2024 |
| Nevada | 2 yr | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 2 years |
| New Jersey | 2 yr | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-2 | Gov entities: Notice of Claim within 90 days under NJ Tort Claims Act |
| Ohio | 2 yr | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 | Gov entities: Notice within 180 days for political subdivisions |
| Oklahoma | 2 yr | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year |
| Oregon | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
| Pennsylvania | 2 yr | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | Gov entities: 6-month notice required for most claims |
| Texas | 2 yr | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 | Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required |
| Virginia | 2 yr | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year |
| West Virginia | 2 yr | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year |
| Arkansas | 3 yr | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 | Gov entities: written notice within 1 year required |
| District of Columbia | 3 yr | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | Gov entities: Notice within 6 months required |
| Maryland | 3 yr | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year required |
| Massachusetts | 3 yr | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | Gov entities: Present claim to government within 2 years |
| Michigan | 3 yr | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) | Gov entities: 60-day notice required, then 1 year to file |
| Mississippi | 3 yr | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 | Gov entities: Notice of claim required |
| Montana | 3 yr | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year |
| New Hampshire | 3 yr | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 180 days |
| New Mexico | 3 yr | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days |
| New York | 3 yr | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5) | Gov entities: Notice of Claim within 90 days |
| North Carolina | 3 yr | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5) | Gov entities: written notice within 1 year required |
| Rhode Island | 3 yr | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) | Gov entities: Presentment within 3 years with additional procedures |
| South Carolina | 3 yr | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | Gov entities: Notice of Claim within 1 year under the SCTCA |
| South Dakota | 3 yr | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| Vermont | 3 yr | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year of incident |
| Washington | 3 yr | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year under RCW 4.96 |
| Wisconsin | 3 yr | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | Gov entities: Notice within 120 days required |
| Nebraska | 4 yr | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207 | Gov entities: State Tort Claims Act — notice within 2 years |
| Utah | 4 yr | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307 | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year |
| Wyoming | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| Missouri | 5 yr | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4) | Gov entities: 90-day notice required |
| Maine | 6 yr | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752 | Gov entities: written notice within 180 days |
| Minnesota | 6 yr | Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 180 days |
| North Dakota | 6 yr | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(5) | Gov entities: Notice of claim within 3 years |
Of 51 jurisdictions, 2 give 1 year, 25 give 2 years, 17 give 3 years, 3 give 4 years, 1 give 5 years, 3 give 6 years.
| Region | Average | Shortest | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 3.0 years | 2 years | 6 years |
| Midwest | 3.3 years | 2 years | 6 years |
| South | 2.2 years | 1 year | 3 years |
| West | 2.5 years | 2 years | 4 years |
In many states, especially for dog bite claims, the clock doesn't start until you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the harm. This is especially important when injuries aren't immediately obvious.
Most states pause (toll) the statute of limitations while the victim is under 18. The clock typically starts running on their 18th birthday. Similar rules may apply to those who are mentally incapacitated.
Suing a city, county, or state agency? Most states require a "Notice of Claim" filed within 60–180 days of the incident — before you can even file a lawsuit. Missing this shorter deadline can permanently bar your claim.
If the defendant actively hid their wrongdoing, courts may extend your deadline. This is called "equitable tolling" due to fraudulent concealment. You generally must show you acted diligently to discover the claim.
Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1
Gov entities: Gov't Tort Claims Act — 6 months to file claim with agency
735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-202
Gov entities: State must file within 1 year; municipalities within 1 year
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Gov entities: Ante Litem notice within 12 months for counties, 6 months for municipalities
Filing deadlines vary significantly by the type of legal claim. Explore deadlines for other case types across all 50 states.
It depends on the state. Dog Bite deadlines run from 1 year (Kentucky and Tennessee) to 6 years (Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota), with a median of 2 years.
Kentucky and Tennessee give just 1 year.
Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota give 6 years, the longest in this dataset.
Not always. In 0 of 51 jurisdictions the dog bite start rule in our data refers to discovery of the harm. Check the state page for the exact accrual rule.
Use the table above or the map to open your state's page, which lists the statute citation, when the clock starts and common exceptions.
StatuteLimits.com. "Dog Bite Statute of Limitations by State (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/case-types/dog-bite
Statute of limitations rules for dog bite cases are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your actual deadline.
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