By understanding the laws and taking preventative measures, property owners and renters can help reduce risks, protect visitors and contribute to safer communities in St. Louis.
Dog bites are more common in St. Louis than many people realize, and recent neighborhood-level data show meaningful differences in where these incidents occur. For property owners and renters alike, it’s important to understand Missouri’s premises liability laws, especially when dog bites occur on rental property.
This article breaks down how Missouri law assigns liability, how landlord liability can arise, and how St. Louis neighborhood data helps clarify risks.
Missouri’s strict liability law for dog bites
Missouri follows a strict liability standard for dog bite cases under RSMO § 273.036. Simply put, if a dog bites someone without provocation and is lawfully on the victim’s property, the dog’s owner is liable, regardless of whether the dog has a known history of aggression.
Key Points Under Missouri Law:
- Victims do not need to prove negligence or premeditated aggression.
- Obligations apply whether the bite occurs on public property or private property where the victim is lawfully present.
- Recoverable damages may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
- The statute of limitations for dog bite actions continues Five years.
For rental properties, this creates a potential liability between the tenants who own the dog and the property owners who control the premises.
When Landlords Can Be Liable
Although strict liability primarily rests with the dog owner, Missouri’s premises liability law may impose additional duties on landlords in certain situations.
A property owner may face liability if:
- They knew or knew That the tenant’s dog is at risk. This includes prior complaints, aggressive behavior, inadequate restraint.
- They failed to implement security measuressuch as lease requirements or restrictions in lease agreements.
- An effective condition on the property Contributed to biting (eg, broken fences allowing the dog to reach guests or passers-by).
Landlord responsibility is not automatic, but the St. Louis incident rate data shows why awareness and proactive safety policies are important.
St. Louis Dog Bite Data: High-Risk Neighborhoods
A comprehensive study analyzing dog bite reports from the St. Louis Department of Health (covering the period March 28, 2013 to July 23, 2025) highlighted stark differences in incident rates between neighborhoods.
According to the data:
- Kings Oak has the highest dog bite rate in the city at 78.30 bites per 10,000 residents.
- Cheltenham follows closely with 73.26 bites per 10,000 residents.
- Other high-risk neighborhoods include Marine Villa (18.85), Benton Park West (18.33), and Patch (18.13).
- In the year 2023, 519 dog bite incidents were recorded, the highest number reported in the last two decades of available data.
This is significant from neighborhood-level variations. In areas with high incident rates, landlords and tenants may be more likely to have dog-related injuries, disputes or claims. Strong security protocols can help reduce this risk.
What should property owners and tenants do?
To reduce risk and protect visitors, landlords and tenants should implement clear, actionable safety practices:
For property owners
For tenants
- Restrain and supervise dogs at all times when visitors or service providers are present.
- Comply with all leash and containment requirements.
- Immediately repair or report structural issues such as broken fences.
Both parties should understand that even a single event can trigger significant legal and financial consequences.
Protect your property and your community
Dog bites are not just a matter of personal injury, they are a public safety issue. Missouri’s strict liability law places strict liability on dog owners, but in some situations, landlords can also be held liable.
Neighborhood data shows that some areas of St. Louis have significantly higher rates of dog bites, making responsible pet management and strong property policies even more important.
By understanding the laws and taking preventative measures, property owners and renters can help reduce risks, protect visitors and contribute to safer communities in St. Louis.
