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

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

The owner is strictly liable. A landlord is judged by what it knew.

Case law, not the statute

Landlord liability is established through case law rather than statute. It is not enough to show that the injuries occurred on the landlord's property.

The one-bite rule for landlords

The victim of a dog known to the landlord to be vicious toward people can bring a claim against the landlord after being attacked by a tenant's dog. Oklahoma follows the one-bite rule for claims against landlords and property owners.

What to show

Summaries describe the elements as the landlord's knowledge of the dog's dangerous tendencies and the ability to act on it.

The owner remains the main target

The dog's owner is strictly liable under 4 O.S. 42.1, and the owner's homeowner's or renter's liability insurance often pays.

Official sources

• 23 O.S. § 13 — comparative negligence

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