A National AgLaw Center Research Publication

States’ Recreational Use Statutes

Compiled by National Agricultural Law Staff

All 50 states in the United States have enacted statutes that confer some degree of liability protection to landowners who allow the general public to enter upon or make use of their land for recreational purposes. Commonly referred to as “recreational use statutes,” these laws promote the public policy of encouraging landowners to open their lands so the public may access a wider range of recreational activities. These statutes are of particular importance to agricultural and rural owners of land. States’ Recreational Use Statutes provides the statutory text of each state’s recreational use statute, along with the date of its possible expiration. The primary aim of this compilation is to provide the researcher with easy and free access to a state’s statutory language by simply clicking on the state’s image in the map below.  This compilation was last updated on September 7, 2022.