Is the Landlord Liable for a Tenant's Dog Bite in Indiana?

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Indiana's narrow strict liability statute leaves landlords out entirely — any claim against one has to be built on ordinary negligence instead.

No path through strict liability

Under Ind. Code §15-20-1-3, Indiana's strict liability rule applies only to victims performing official government or postal duties — it has no application to landlords at all. Whatever exposure a landlord has runs entirely through negligence.

What negligence against a landlord actually requires

Generally, the landlord needs to have known the dog had dangerous propensities, and had both the practical ability and the legal right to have the dog removed from the property — but failed to act on that knowledge.

A pet-friendly lease alone isn't enough

Simply allowing pets under a lease doesn't create liability on its own. The landlord generally needs actual or constructive knowledge of the specific dog's dangerous tendencies — not just general awareness that tenants in the building keep pets.

Ownership of the dog isn't required

Unlike Indiana's narrow strict liability statute, a negligence theory against a landlord doesn't require any ownership or control of the dog itself — only knowledge of the danger and a failure to exercise the landlord's own authority over the rented property.

Official sources

• Ind. Code § 34-51-2-6 — comparative fault
• Ind. Code § 15-20-1-4 — dog bite liability

This is general information, not legal advice. Landlord liability for a tenant's dog turns heavily on the specific facts and what the landlord actually knew. Confirm how this applies to your situation with a licensed Indiana attorney.