Tort immunity for landowners' allowing recreational activity; adverse possession.

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(a) A landowner that allows a recreational activity on the landowner's land without charge does not, by allowing that activity,

(1) owe a duty of care to maintain the land safe for entry or use for a recreational activity or to eliminate, alter, or control the inherent risks of a recreational activity;

(2) owe a duty to warn persons using the land for a recreational activity of any dangerous condition, known or unknown, apparent or hidden;

(3) owe a duty to curtail or prevent use of the land for recreational activities;

(4) implicitly ensure that the land is safe for any purpose;

(5) confer a legal status, such as invitee or licensee, to which a special duty of care is owed; or

(6) assume responsibility for any injury to persons or property.

(b) This section applies only during the time that a landowner allows recreational use under a recorded grant of a public recreational use easement as required in AS 34.17.100.

(c) This section does not apply to a civil action

(1) if the landowner collects a charge for entry on the land for a recreational activity; or

(2) that is based on intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct of the landowner.

(d) This section may not be construed to conflict with, nor does it have any effect on, a liability release agreement between a participant in a recreational activity and a landowner.

(e) Except as provided for under AS 09.45.052(d), land use allowed by a landowner for a recreational activity without charge may not form the basis of a claim for adverse possession, prescriptive easement, or a similar claim.

(f) In this section,

(1) “charge” means a fee or admission price imposed for access to or use of land, a recreational activity, a service, an entertainment, or another activity, except that the following is not considered a “charge”:

(A) consideration received by the landowner from the state or political subdivision for land leased or dedicated to the state or political subdivision;

(B) property tax relief in exchange for a landowner's agreement to open land for a recreational activity; or

(C) a contribution in kind, service, or cash from a user if all of the contribution is used to improve access or trails, to remedy or reduce damage, to provide warning of a hazard, or to remove a hazard from the land;

(2) “land” includes private

(A) unimproved land;

(B) improved land, exclusive of buildings, structures, machinery, or equipment on the land;

(C) ways or land subject to an easement or right-of-way;

(D) roads and trails;

(E) water and watercourses on or running through the land;

(3) “landowner” means a private person who owns land;

(4) “private person” has the meaning given in AS 09.55.240;

(5) “recreational activity” has the meaning given “sports or recreational activity” in AS 09.65.290.


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