Dogs in Arizona, United States: rules, tax and travel
Dog owners are strictly liable for bites, dogs off the owner's property must be leashed, and counties license dogs from 3 months.
Licence fees and local dog rules are set by each county.
The national rules for United States apply here too. National rules
Breed rules
No breed-specific rule found.
Registration and microchip
Dogs 3 months and older are licensed through the county; the county board of supervisors sets the fee and the licence period follows the rabies revaccination interval (A.R.S. 11-1008).[1]
Leash and muzzle
Dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash of no more than 6 feet. Dogs over 3 months at large must wear a collar with a licence tag. Dogs in parks and on school property must be leashed or enclosed (A.R.S. 11-1012).[2]
Other rules
Bite liability: strict. The owner is liable for a bite in a public place or where the victim is lawfully present, regardless of the dog's former viciousness; decision makers may not consider breed (A.R.S. 11-1025).[3]
Breed rules: counties may enforce a city's dog rules only if they are not breed-specific (A.R.S. 11-1005). Animallaw.info lists Arizona as barring breed-specific local rules.[4]
Rabies: A.R.S. 11-1014 assumes vaccination under the state rules; an unvaccinated biting dog or cat is quarantined at least 10 days. Rules refer to the national Compendium (A.A.C. R3-2-409).[5]
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.
Sources
- azleg.gov/ars/11/01008.htm (official)
- azleg.gov/ars/11/01012.htm (official)
- azleg.gov/ars/11/01025.htm (official)
- azleg.gov/ars/11/01005.htm (official)
- azleg.gov/ars/11/01014.htm (official)