An image coding method comprises: a context arithmetic coding step (S711) for continuously coding (i) first information indicating whether or not SAO processing is performed on a first region, and (ii) second information indicating whether or not information relating to SAO processing on a region different from the first region is used for the SAO processing on the first region by context arithmetic coding; and a bypass arithmetic coding step (S712) for, after the first information and the second information are coded, coding other information by bypass arithmetic coding, the other information includes third information indicating whether the SAO processing is edge offset processing or band offset processing, in the context arithmetic coding step (S711), the value of the first bit of a bit string of a parameter indicating the type of the SAO processing is coded as the first information, and in the bypass arithmetic coding step (S712), the value of a bit next to the first bit of the bit string of the parameter is coded as the third information.