North Carolina House Bill 852 Establishes Strict Dog Bite Liability and Uniform Leashing Rules

Original title: Safe Dogs, Safe Owners.

Last action · April 10, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: von Haefen and 9 others

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What This Bill Would Do

House Bill 852 establishes strict civil liability for dog owners when an unleashed dog injures a person or domestic animal in public, while standardizing leash laws across the state. The measure removes nighttime-only restrictions to apply leash and restraint requirements continuously, criminalizing intentional violations as a starting December 1, 2025.

Why it matters

Dog bite victims and owners of injured domestic animals gain a clearer legal path to sue for damages across all jurisdictions by eliminating inconsistent local municipal ordinances. Pet owners statewide face potential misdemeanor charges and financial liability if their dogs cause injury while off-leash in public spaces.

Background

North Carolina historically relied on a patchwork of county and municipal ordinances to regulate dog leashes and restraint. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

dog owners

Dog owners face strict civil liability for injuries caused by their dogs while off-leash and potential Class 3 misdemeanor charges for intentional violations.

Directly affected

dog bite victims

Victims gain a uniform statewide legal standard to pursue civil damages without running into conflicting local municipal ordinances.

Directly affected

law enforcement and animal control officers

Officers receive consistent statewide definitions to assist bite victims and enforce leash rules without navigating a patchwork of local laws.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'at large' mean under the proposed law?

It refers to any dog not under the reasonable physical control of an owner or authorized person, including dogs walking on leashes that are too long, controlled only by verbal commands, or escaping from outdoor enclosures.

Are hunting dogs or police dogs subject to these leash requirements?

No, dogs used by law enforcement officers on official duty and dogs actively used in a lawful hunt are explicitly exempt from the '' definition.

What are the criminal penalties for violating the new leash rules?

Any person who intentionally, knowingly, and willfully allows a dog over six months old to run commits a and remains liable for any resulting property or personal injury damages.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 10, 2025House
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 10, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 9, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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