Dog Liability Insurance in Colorado
Dog liability insurance in Colorado can pay for injuries or property damage your dog causes to others. It’s often used when a dog has a bite history, is excluded on an existing policy, or a landlord or HOA requires separate proof of coverage. Chelsea Insurance Services is a family-owned agency in Firestone.
Quick facts
- Canine liability typically covers injuries or damage your dog causes to other people, plus defense costs, subject to terms.
- It doesn’t cover your own dog’s vet bills. That’s pet health insurance.
- Colorado law limits how home insurers can use dog breed.
- A landlord or HOA may require separate proof of dog liability coverage.
- Coverage depends on the policy and carrier. We’ll review options with you.
What canine liability insurance is
Canine liability insurance is a policy that can pay for injuries or property damage your dog causes to other people, plus legal defense costs, subject to the policy’s terms and limits. It’s separate from, or supplements, the personal liability on a homeowners or renters policy.
Standalone dog liability generally covers liability to others. It doesn’t cover your own dog’s veterinary bills, and it doesn’t replace the property coverage on your home or renters policy.
Who dog liability insurance is for
Most dog owners never need a standalone policy. It tends to make sense in a few specific situations:
- A dog with a bite history or a prior incident, or a dog that has been declared dangerous.
- A dog that’s excluded or limited on your existing home or renters policy, for example through an animal liability exclusion or a low sub-limit.
- A landlord, HOA or other party that requires separate proof of dog liability coverage.
- Owners who want dedicated limits for their dog, separate from their home or renters liability.
Colorado’s dog-breed insurance law (HB23-1068), in plain English
HB23-1068 took effect January 1, 2024. Under it, insurers may not refuse to issue, cancel, refuse to renew, or increase the premium or rate of a homeowner’s or dwelling fire policy based on the breed or mix of breeds of dog kept at the dwelling.
Insurers may act based on a specific dog that is known to be dangerous or has been declared dangerous under state law. They may not ask about breed, only whether the dog is known to be or has been declared dangerous.
Colorado law limits how home insurers can use dog breed; ask us how it applies to your policy. If you believe an insurer has asked about or acted on your dog’s breed, you can contact the Colorado Division of Insurance.
This is general information, not legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy’s terms.
How dog liability fits with your home, renters and umbrella policies
Start with the policies you already have. Look for an animal liability exclusion, a sub-limit for dog-related claims, or an endorsement that names your dog. If your home or renters liability covers your dog at a limit you’re comfortable with, you may not need anything more.
A personal umbrella may add limits above your home or renters liability for a covered dog-bite claim. Some umbrellas follow the exclusions in your underlying policy, and some exclude animal liability on their own, so a dog that’s excluded underneath may not be covered above.
If you’re not sure what your policies say, send us your declarations pages and we’ll read them with you. Related pages: Colorado renters insurance, Colorado homeowners insurance and personal umbrella insurance.
Good habits that help
Insurance is one piece of being a responsible dog owner. Leash laws, secure fencing, training, and keeping records of vaccinations and any incidents all help, both to prevent an injury and to answer an insurer’s questions accurately. If there has been an incident, be upfront about it. Leaving it off an application can cause bigger problems at claim time.
How to get a dog liability quote
- Tell us what you need. Use the quote form or call 720-669-3647.
- We compare options. As an independent agency, we can look at more than one insurance company for you.
- You choose. We walk you through the options in plain English, and you decide.
What to have ready:
- The number of dogs in your household
- Any bite or incident history, with dates
- Any dangerous-dog designation
- The limit your landlord or HOA requires, if any
- Your address
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy’s terms.
Dog liability insurance FAQs
Can a Colorado home insurer deny me because of my dog’s breed?
Under HB23-1068, effective January 1, 2024, Colorado homeowner’s and dwelling fire insurers generally may not refuse, cancel, non-renew or raise premiums based on a dog’s breed, and may not ask about breed. They may act based on a specific dog that is known to be dangerous or has been declared dangerous. Colorado law limits how home insurers can use dog breed; ask us how it applies to your policy. This is general information, not legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy’s terms.
Does homeowners or renters insurance cover dog bites?
Often, yes. The personal liability part of a homeowners or renters policy may respond if your dog injures someone, subject to the policy’s limits and terms. Some policies exclude or limit animal liability, and a dog with a bite history can affect your options. Check your policy for an animal liability exclusion or sub-limit, or send us your declarations page to review.
What if my dog has been declared dangerous?
A dangerous-dog designation can affect your options for coverage. A separate canine liability policy may be an option in that situation, subject to the carrier’s underwriting. Tell us what happened, when, and what the designation requires, and we’ll look at what’s available.
My landlord requires dog liability insurance. Can you help?
Yes. Some landlords, HOAs and property managers ask dog owners to show separate proof of dog liability coverage, sometimes with a minimum limit or a request to be listed on the policy. Send us the requirement from your lease or HOA rules, and we’ll look for canine liability coverage that meets it, subject to the carrier’s terms.
Does an umbrella policy cover dog bites?
It may. A personal umbrella can pay a covered claim that exceeds your home or renters liability limit, subject to its terms. Some umbrellas exclude or limit animal liability, or follow the exclusions in your underlying policy, so a dog excluded there may not be covered by the umbrella either. See personal umbrella insurance or ask us to check.
Is dog liability insurance the same as pet insurance?
No. Dog liability insurance can help pay for injuries or property damage your dog causes to other people. Pet health insurance helps pay your own veterinary bills when your pet is sick or hurt. They solve different problems, and some dog owners carry both. This page is about liability coverage.
Get a dog liability quote from a family-owned agency
Tell us a little about what you need and we’ll follow up to review options with you.