Written Permission From a Tennessee Landowner
A landowner’s verbal okay can feel clear until a gate is locked, a neighbor objects, or the property turns out to include a leased road or public land. If you plan to ride an ATV or UTV on private property in Tennessee, written permission helps define where, when, and how you may ride. It does not replace permits or rules that apply to other land.
What written permission should cover
Written permission is most useful when it answers practical questions before anyone unloads a machine. A short message, signed note, or other written record can help both the rider and the person granting access remember what was agreed. The format matters less than having clear, specific terms and a way to confirm who gave permission.
Include the following details:
- Who is allowed to ride: Name each rider if possible. If the permission is for a family or group, identify the group and say whether guests may join. Permission for one person should not be treated as permission for every person in that person’s truck.
- Which machines are covered: Describe the ATVs or UTVs, or state the type and number of machines allowed. This matters when the property owner has agreed to a small ride but not a large group or a wide side-by-side.
- Where riders may go: Identify the tract, entrance, roads, trails, or marked boundaries. A permission to use a driveway or access road is not necessarily permission to explore the whole property.
- When access is allowed: Give the dates or time period, and note any restrictions on daylight, weekends, hunting seasons, or other activities. If access is ongoing, make clear that the owner may change or withdraw it.
- What activities are allowed: State whether riding is permitted only on existing routes, whether riders may leave the machine to hike, and whether camping, fires, passengers, or carrying equipment are included.
- Any conditions: Record speed limits, quiet hours, required gear, gate instructions, parking arrangements, and restrictions on alcohol or firearms if the owner has set them.
- Who to contact: Include a phone number or other reliable contact method for questions, closures, or an emergency. Riders should know how to reach the person who can clarify the agreement.
A useful written permission is specific enough to prevent misunderstandings without trying to cover every imaginable situation. For example, “ride the marked gravel loop on Saturday with two listed machines, enter through the north gate, and close the gate behind you” is clearer than “you can ride here.”
Keep a copy on a phone and, when practical, a paper copy in the tow vehicle. A screenshot of a text or email may help show what was agreed, but it is still important to confirm that the message came from someone with authority over the land and that it has not been superseded by a later restriction.
Confirm who has authority and what land is included
The person who gives permission should have the authority to allow the activity on the specific property. The owner may be able to grant access, but ownership is not the only arrangement that can affect access. A tenant, farm operator, timber manager, or holder of a land-use agreement may have limited rights. Someone who can let you use one road may not be able to authorize riding across the entire tract.
This is especially important on land with leases, easements, mineral rights, or multiple owners. In Tennessee, some riding areas are connected to working coal properties or other private arrangements. Permission from one person does not automatically establish that they can authorize every route or use. If the land is leased or managed by someone other than the owner, ask who controls recreational access and which boundaries or roads are included. For more on that issue, see Tennessee Rules for Riding a Leased Coal Property.
Before riding, confirm that the description of the property matches the place you intend to enter. A local name for a farm or tract may not match its legal boundaries. Ask for a map, marked route, gate location, or other directions that make the permitted area understandable. If the owner says “stay on the old road,” ask which road and where it ends. Do not assume a trail continues across adjoining land just because the ground looks connected.
| Permission detail | Why it matters | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Person granting access | They may not control all land or routes | Their role and authority over the area |
| Property boundary | Nearby land can belong to another owner | Exact tract, map, marked limits, or route |
| Entry point | A gate may lead onto a different parcel | Which entrance to use and how to secure it |
| Route | Permission may be limited to certain roads | Whether riding off the route is allowed |
| Dates and hours | Access can depend on work, hunting, or other uses | Approved times and closure process |
| Guests and passengers | Permission may not extend to everyone present | Who may ride and who may ride as a passenger |
If the owner cannot clearly identify the permitted area, do not try to settle the boundary by riding until you find a fence or sign. Ask for clarification first. Property lines can be hard to see in wooded terrain, and an old road, trail, or utility corridor does not by itself show that riding is authorized.
Written permission also should not be confused with the status of the machine itself. A private landowner’s okay does not create a title, registration, or proof of ownership. Likewise, a Tennessee title or sticker does not give the holder permission to cross someone else’s land. These are separate questions, as explained in Why Tennessee Has No Statewide Trail Sticker.
Permission is limited to the place and use described
A permission note is not a universal pass. It applies to the land, people, machines, dates, and activities that the person granting access actually agreed to. If any of those change, contact the landowner again rather than assuming the original permission expands with the plan.
For example, permission to ride a marked trail does not necessarily include:
- Taking a shortcut through a field or wooded area.
- Using a different gate or crossing another parcel.
- Bringing additional riders or machines.
- Returning on a different date or after the agreed time.
- Camping, building a fire, target shooting, or retrieving game.
- Letting another person use the property without the owner’s approval.
A route that appears to be part of the same property might cross a neighbor’s land, a public road, or land managed under a separate agreement. Permission for one section does not automatically carry over to the next. If you are unsure whether a trail crosses a boundary, stop and ask before continuing.
The distinction between private land and public riding land matters, too. Written permission from a private owner does not authorize riding on a Wildlife Management Area, a state-managed trail, or a commercial park. Those places may have their own access rules, permits, closures, and operating conditions. Check the rules for the specific area; Tennessee Rules for Riding a WMA is a useful starting point for state-managed WMA land. A private landowner cannot waive requirements imposed by a separate land manager.
The same caution applies to public roads. Permission to use a private tract does not make every connecting road open to an ATV or UTV. Before a route leaves private land, verify that road use is allowed and that the machine and rider meet applicable requirements. See Tennessee Rules for Riding Private Property for the private-land distinction, and Tennessee Rules for Riding a County Road if your planned route touches a county road.
Keep the agreement current and ride within it
Access arrangements can change. A property may be needed for farming, timber work, hunting, repairs, or another use. The owner may close a route because of rain damage, a fallen tree, active equipment, or a safety concern. If a gate is closed or a sign says the route is unavailable, treat that as a reason to stop and contact the landowner rather than trying another way in.
Before each ride, confirm that the permission still applies. This is especially important when the original agreement was made months earlier, the rider group has changed, or the property is managed by someone whose responsibilities may have shifted. A quick confirmation can prevent a disagreement about whether access was still authorized.
Follow the conditions closely. Stay on agreed routes, respect speed and noise limits, avoid disturbing livestock or equipment, and leave gates as instructed. Do not remove signs, bypass barriers, or create new trails unless the owner has specifically agreed. If the route is damaged or blocked, report the problem and ask before rerouting.
It is sensible to discuss safety and responsibility in advance. Ask whether the owner expects riders to carry insurance, wear helmets, or use particular protective equipment. Clarify whether children and passengers are included in the permission. The owner’s permission does not necessarily settle questions about injury, damage, or responsibility, and a written note should not be treated as a promise that no one can be held accountable. For a group ride, consider keeping the group small and making sure every participant understands the boundaries and conditions.
When permission is withdrawn or the agreed period ends, stop riding on the property. Do not rely on an old text as ongoing authorization if the owner has since said access is closed. If there is a disagreement about what the writing means, pause the ride and resolve it with the person who controls access. Continuing while the terms are disputed can turn a simple misunderstanding into a trespass or property-damage problem.
A practical process before you unload
Use this process to make the arrangement clear without making it complicated:
- Identify the property and contact the person in control. Ask whether they own or manage the land and whether anyone else controls the roads or trails you plan to use.
- Describe your ride plainly. Tell them the date, number of riders, type and number of machines, expected route, and whether passengers or guests will come.
- Ask about boundaries and restrictions. Confirm the entrance, permitted routes, hours, gate instructions, closures, and any activity that is not allowed.
- Get the agreement in writing. A signed note, email, or text can record the terms. Make sure it is clear who granted permission and what the permission covers.
- Carry the record and follow the conditions. Keep the permission available during the ride, stay within the agreed area, and check again if plans change.
- Stop and clarify anything uncertain. A closed gate, unclear boundary, unexpected sign, or route crossing is a reason to contact the landowner before proceeding.
Written permission works best as a clear, limited agreement—not as a substitute for checking boundaries, public-land rules, road restrictions, or the owner’s latest instructions. If the land, route, or authority to grant access is uncertain, resolve that uncertainty before riding.
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.
