Self-Defense Laws in Arizona

Stand your ground. A person has no duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly physical force in self-defense if the person is in a place where the person may legally be and is not engaged in an unlawful act. Separately, there is no duty to retreat before threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force to prevent listed serious crimes (such as arson of an occupied structure, burglary, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, armed robbery and certain aggravated assaults), and that rule applies in a home, residence, place of business, land the person owns or leases, any conveyance, and any other place in this state where a person has a right to be.

A person is presumed to reasonably believe that force, including deadly force, is immediately necessary if the person knows or has reason to believe that someone is unlawfully or forcefully entering, or has unlawfully or forcefully entered and is present in, the person's residential structure or occupied vehicle; such an intruder is presumed to pose an imminent threat of unlawful deadly harm. The presumptions do not apply if the person against whom force is used has a right to be there or is a lawful resident (such as an owner, lessee, invitee or titleholder) and no order of protection or injunction against harassment has been filed against that person; if that person is a parent, grandparent or legal custodian or guardian of a child or grandchild being removed; if the person using force is engaged in unlawful activity or using the structure or vehicle to further it; or if the person against whom force is used is a law enforcement officer entering in the performance of official duties. A person is also presumed to act reasonably when using force to prevent listed serious crimes in a home, business, owned or leased land or conveyance. Civil immunity: no person shall be subject to civil liability for engaging in conduct otherwise justified under the justification chapter.