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

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

The strict liability statute applies only to the owner, so a landlord faces a narrower test.

The statute names the owner

The strict liability in N.C.G.S. 67-4.4 applies only to the dog's owner.

When a landlord can be liable

A landlord can be liable if it knew a dangerous dog was on the rental property and had the legal right to remove it but failed to do so.

Keepers and sitters

Dog sitters, house guests or family members who were looking after the dog can be treated as an owner for purposes of liability.

Proof

A plaintiff has to show the landlord's actual knowledge and its legal ability to remove the dog, for example through a lease clause or animal control complaints.

The owner remains the main target

The owner's homeowner's or renter's liability insurance often funds the claim, and contributory negligence applies to claims against a landlord too.

Official sources

• N.C.G.S. § 1-52 — three-year actions
• N.C.G.S. § 67-4.4 — strict liability for dangerous dogs
• N.C.G.S. § 67-4.1 — dangerous dogs

This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how North Carolina's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed North Carolina attorney.