Arkansas Landowner Permission Forms
A signed form can prevent confusion about where you may ride, who is covered, and when permission ends. But an Arkansas landowner permission form is not a state riding permit, a lease, or blanket approval to use nearby roads and trails. Here’s what to put in writing, how to handle changes, and what to check before you take a machine onto someone else’s property.
What an Arkansas landowner permission form does
A landowner permission form records the owner’s consent for specified people to ride on specified private land under stated conditions. Its practical value is clarity: if a question comes up later, both sides have a record of what was agreed to.
There is not a single statewide form that every ATV or UTV rider must use to obtain a landowner’s permission. The owner may give permission verbally or in writing, depending on the circumstances, but a signed written record is easier to refer to and may help show what the owner authorized. A form does not guarantee that a rider has permission if the person who signed it lacked authority over the land.
Permission should be specific rather than assumed. A landowner might allow a family member to ride a particular section of property on weekends but not allow guests, overnight access, hunting, or use of the farm road. A signed document helps distinguish that limited consent from broader access. For more about the boundaries of consent, see Arkansas Rules With a Landowner’s Permission and Riding on Land You Do Not Own.
A permission form also does not override other rules. It does not automatically authorize riding on a public road, a neighboring parcel, a public trail, or land managed by a government agency. It does not replace any permit required for a separate riding area, and it does not make an ATV or UTV street legal. Riders still need to follow applicable laws and any site-specific restrictions.
| A permission form can document | It does not automatically provide |
|---|---|
| Who has the owner’s consent to ride | Permission to enter neighboring land |
| Which property or area is covered | Access to public roads or public trails |
| When access is allowed | A forest, park, or trail-system permit |
| What machines and activities are allowed | Insurance coverage or legal immunity |
| Conditions such as gates, speed, and guests | Permission to hunt, camp, or cut trees |
Written permission matters most when several people use the property, access is occasional, or the owner has set limits that may be easy to misunderstand. It can also help prevent a casual invitation from being treated as open-ended permission. If the owner changes their mind, the form should make clear that permission can be withdrawn and explain how riders will be notified.
What to include in the form
A useful form is clear enough that someone who was not part of the original conversation can understand the arrangement. Keep it focused on access and riding. If the agreement also covers hunting, camping, property maintenance, or other activities, set those out separately rather than assuming that ATV permission includes them.
Identify the people and the land
Name the landowner or the person authorized to give permission, along with each rider covered by the agreement. If a group is involved, list the participants or attach a dated roster. Do not assume that permission for one rider automatically includes friends, relatives, employees, or guests.
Describe the property as precisely as practical. A street address may be useful, but rural parcels can be hard to identify by address alone. Add a parcel description, a marked map, or clear boundaries such as the named access gate and the property line. If only a portion of the property is open to riding, identify that area and show excluded areas on the map.
The person granting permission should have authority over the land or the right to allow the proposed use. A tenant, hunting-club member, caretaker, or family member may not be authorized to approve ATV access simply because they use the property. If ownership or control is shared, confirm who needs to agree.
State the permitted use and conditions
Spell out what the owner is allowing. For example, the form can say whether the permission covers riding an ATV, UTV, or both; whether riders may bring their own machines; and whether passengers or guests are allowed. Include any limits on dates, hours, routes, or seasons.
List restrictions plainly. These may include staying on marked paths, avoiding fields or planted areas, keeping away from livestock, not riding after rain, closing gates, or not using the property at night. If the owner wants riders to avoid a creek crossing, hunting area, or logging operation, identify it on the map or in writing. “Stay on the trails” is less useful if the trails are not marked or everyone has a different idea of where they run.
Be clear about other activities. Permission to ride does not necessarily include hunting, fishing, camping, collecting firewood, building a fire, or bringing dogs. If those activities are part of the arrangement, list them and any limits. A hunting lease or club arrangement may set separate conditions, so check the documents that already govern access.
Record dates, contacts, and signatures
State when permission starts and ends, or explain how long it lasts. If access is limited to specific dates or a season, write those dates down. Include a way to contact the landowner or designated contact if a gate is locked, a route is blocked, or conditions have changed.
Both the owner or authorized representative and the riders should sign and date the form. For a group, each rider can sign the same document or sign an attached roster that clearly refers to the permission form. Give everyone a copy and keep the property map with it. If the agreement changes, update the written record rather than relying on an old version that no longer matches the owner’s instructions.
| Form detail | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Names of the owner and authorized riders | Clarifies who has consent |
| Property description and marked riding area | Reduces boundary mistakes |
| Allowed machines and activities | Avoids treating ATV permission as permission for everything |
| Dates, hours, and seasonal limits | Makes the access period clear |
| Routes and restricted areas | Helps protect crops, livestock, and sensitive ground |
| Gate and parking instructions | Sets expectations at entry and exit |
| Emergency contact information | Gives riders a point of contact |
| Signatures and dates | Records who agreed and when |
| Revocation and change instructions | Explains how permission may end or be updated |
A form should not promise more than the owner intends. Avoid vague language such as “use the property whenever” unless that truly reflects the agreement. If the arrangement involves payment, regular access, a club, or multiple landowners, it may be more than a simple permission letter. Consider having an attorney review terms that create ongoing obligations or address significant risks.
How to get and use permission responsibly
Start with the person who controls the land, and ask before entering. Explain who will ride, what machines they will bring, when they want access, and where they hope to ride. This gives the owner a chance to set practical limits before anyone arrives. A form is useful only if it reflects an actual agreement; do not treat a signature from someone without authority as permission.
- Confirm the property boundary. Use the owner’s directions and any map they provide. Do not assume that a trail, gate, or open field is within the property covered by the agreement.
- Agree on the details. Discuss riders, machines, dates, routes, guests, parking, gates, and activities other than riding.
- Write down the agreement. Use plain language and include the restrictions the owner has set. Attach a map if it will make the permitted area easier to identify.
- Sign and share copies. Each rider should know the rules, not just the person who arranged access.
- Check before each visit. Conditions can change. Ask whether the land is still open, whether work is underway, and whether any route is temporarily off limits.
- Follow the agreement on the ground. Stay within the approved area, respect gates and signs, and leave if the owner or authorized contact tells you to stop.
Permission can be limited or withdrawn. If the owner closes the property, changes the permitted route, or asks riders to leave, comply promptly. A form does not give riders a right to continue using the land after consent ends. For more on what happens when access is not authorized, see Arkansas Trespass Law for Riders.
Do not treat permission to cross one parcel as consent to continue across the next one. If a route passes over multiple properties, get permission from each owner or from someone who can show they are authorized to grant access for all of them. The same caution applies to easements, shared driveways, timber roads, and paths that appear to connect with a public trail.
Keep a copy available while riding. A paper copy in a protected pouch is a straightforward backup; a waterproof document sleeve from a retailer such as Amazon can help keep it legible in wet or muddy conditions. A digital copy may also be useful, but do not rely on a phone if coverage, battery life, or weather could make it unavailable. The form is evidence of the agreed terms, not a substitute for asking the owner when something is unclear.
Finally, permission from a landowner does not settle every issue related to liability or insurance. A permission form may describe risks and responsibilities, but its legal effect depends on the language and circumstances. Do not assume a waiver eliminates the rider’s responsibility for careless conduct or guarantees that an owner or rider is protected from every claim. Riders should review their own insurance terms and seek qualified legal advice if the arrangement involves significant risk or a recurring organized activity.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent problem is treating a general invitation as permission for everyone and every kind of use. “You can ride here” may not answer whether guests can come, whether a UTV is allowed, or whether riders can use a road that crosses the property. Write down the scope, then ask rather than guessing when the circumstances change.
Another mistake is failing to identify the land. A form that names only a farm or gives only a general location can leave riders unsure where permission ends. A simple map with the approved area outlined is often more useful than a long description alone. Do not extend the route beyond the marked boundary because a trail appears to continue.
Other avoidable problems include:
- Assuming an employee or relative can grant permission. Verify that the person has authority.
- Forgetting guests. List who is covered and how additional riders must be approved.
- Treating riding permission as a hunting or camping permit. Get separate consent for activities not listed.
- Leaving dates open-ended by accident. Specify the period or how the owner will renew permission.
- Ignoring other access requirements. A private-land form does not replace a required permit for a separate public riding area. See Arkansas Riders Need Two Different Forest Passes when planning a ride that includes forest systems.
- Relying on permission to use a road. The owner’s consent does not itself make a public road legal for ATV or UTV use. Check Arkansas ATV Road Rules: What 27-21-106 Says before riding on roads.
- Keeping only an outdated copy. Replace the form when the route, riders, or conditions change.
- Using a waiver as a substitute for clear permission. A liability release and an access agreement serve different purposes; neither should be assumed to cover every legal issue.
If the owner does not want to sign a form, ask whether they will confirm the boundaries and conditions in a text or email. Keep the response and do not infer consent from silence. If the owner declines permission, respect that decision. For written-consent basics, see Written Permission From an Arkansas Landowner.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
