Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 2 years to file a dog bite claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 25 of 51 jurisdictions give 2 years for dog bite claims: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-2-38 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| California | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Delaware | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Illinois | 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-202 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Louisiana | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.10 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-2 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Texas | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b) | Date of bite, attack, or injury |
25 of 51 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
Other states allow 1 year, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years. See the links on this page for each group.
Not always. Many states pause or extend the clock for minors, for harm that is discovered late, or when the defendant hides the wrong, and claims against governments often require earlier notice. Check your state's page for its exceptions.