Texas dog bite laws
Texas has no single civil "dog bite statute." Under Marshall v. Ranne (Tex. 1974), an owner who knew or had reason to know of a dog's dangerous propensities can be strictly liable (opinion). Separate statutes cover dangerous dogs (Health & Safety Code ch. 822) and bite reporting and quarantine (ch. 826).
General information about Texas law, not legal advice. The author is not a lawyer. Laws change; check the linked sources and talk to a Texas lawyer about your situation.
The civil rule from Marshall v. Ranne
In Marshall v. Ranne, 511 S.W.2d 255 (Tex. 1974), the Supreme Court of Texas held that the owner of an animal with known vicious or dangerous propensities is subject to strict liability for harm it causes (Marshall v. Ranne). The opinion is often summarized as Texas's "one bite" rule. Other theories can apply depending on the facts; a lawyer can say which.
"Dangerous dog" under state law
Health and Safety Code Section 822.041 defines a "dangerous dog" as one that makes an unprovoked attack causing bodily injury outside a secure enclosure, or whose unprovoked acts there make a person reasonably believe it will attack (§822.041). Within 30 days of learning the dog is dangerous, the owner must register it with local animal control, restrain it, and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance or financial responsibility (§822.042).
It is a criminal offense for an owner, with criminal negligence, to fail to secure a dog that makes an unprovoked attack off the owner's property causing serious bodily injury or death (§822.005).
Texas dog bite law: reporting and quarantine
A person who knows of an animal bite to a person that could reasonably be foreseen as capable of transmitting rabies must report it to the local rabies control authority (§826.041). An owner must submit for quarantine an animal reported to have exposed someone to rabies, to the local authority where the exposure happened (§826.042). The quarantine method and length are set by state health rules under that section.
Deadline
A dog bite injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the general two-year limitations period is the starting point. See our statute of limitations guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas have a dog bite statute?
Texas has no single statute setting civil liability for dog bites. Civil liability comes mainly from court decisions such as Marshall v. Ranne (Tex. 1974). Health and Safety Code chapters 822 and 826 cover dangerous dogs, bite reporting and rabies quarantine.
Do dog bites have to be reported in Texas?
Health and Safety Code Section 826.041 requires a person who knows of an animal bite that could reasonably be foreseen as capable of transmitting rabies to report it to the local rabies control authority.
Sources
- Marshall v. Ranne, 511 S.W.2d 255 (Tex. 1974) (checked October 18, 2026)
- Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 822 (§§822.005, 822.041, 822.042) (checked October 18, 2026)
- Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 826 (§§826.041, 826.042) (checked October 18, 2026)