North Dakota Event Permits for a Ride

An organized ATV or UTV ride can look like a larger version of a weekend outing, but hosting it may involve permissions that individual riders do not need. In North Dakota, the right place to start is the route and the land manager—not a rider’s registration decal. Here’s how to work out whether your event needs approval and what to confirm before inviting people.

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When a Ride May Need Event Approval

A few friends traveling together on an open route is not automatically the same as an organized event. A planned ride can raise extra questions when it uses managed public land, gathers a large group, reserves facilities, involves a race or timed activity, charges an entry fee, or advertises attendance to the public. The land manager’s rules and the event’s details matter.

There is no single event permit that should be assumed to cover every North Dakota ride. Approval may come from the agency or owner responsible for the specific ground, and one authorization may not cover every part of a route. A ride that passes through different management areas may require you to contact more than one land manager.

A route being open to ordinary riding does not necessarily mean a group can hold an organized event there without advance approval. Conversely, calling a small informal ride an “event” does not by itself mean a permit is required. Describe what you plan to do and ask the responsible office directly.

Ride situation	What to check
Small, informal ride on an open public route	Whether the route is open to your machine and whether group-size or site rules apply
Advertised ride with a meeting point or staging area	Whether the land manager requires event authorization, facility use approval, or advance notice
Race, timed course, or organized competition	Whether the activity is allowed and what written permits, safety plans, or restrictions apply
Ride using private property	Written permission from the owner, including permission for the group size and planned activity
Route crossing several types of land	Approval and access rules for each section, not just the starting point

A permit for an organized activity is separate from the documents each rider may need. It does not replace vehicle registration, a visitor permit when required, or compliance with route rules. For a breakdown of what an individual machine needs for access, see North Dakota Registration and Trail Access. Visiting riders should also check North Dakota Permits for Visiting Riders and North Dakota’s Non-Resident OHV Permit.

Do not treat an event permit as permission to ride anywhere nearby. It does not necessarily open a closed route, authorize cross-country travel, or override restrictions on a particular property. North Dakota’s route and land rules still apply; North Dakota Cross-Country Travel Is Banned explains why a route needs to be legal even when a group has an event plan.

Who to Contact and What to Ask

Start with a route map and identify who manages each section. A trailhead, staging area, campground, road, and connecting trail may have different rules or owners. If you are unsure, ask the office responsible for the starting location who manages the route beyond it. Do not rely solely on an old map, a social media post, or the fact that someone rode there previously.

When you contact an agency, landowner, or site manager, explain the event plainly. Give the date or likely date range, expected number of machines and people, route, staging location, and whether the ride is public, competitive, commercial, or fundraising. Ask whether written approval is needed and whether that approval covers the entire route or only the location you are discussing.

Useful questions include:

Is the planned route open to ATVs or UTVs on the proposed date?
Does this group size require advance notice or a special-use or event application?
Are there limits on the number of machines, parking, camping, or use of facilities?
Are races, timed sections, fees, sponsorships, or public advertising allowed?
Are there seasonal closures, weather-related restrictions, or other activities that affect access?
Does the group need to provide an insurance certificate, safety plan, emergency contact, or cleanup plan?
What is the approval process, and how long should the organizer allow for review?
Does the approval need to be carried or displayed at the event?

Ask for the answer in writing, especially when permission is granted verbally or when several people are coordinating the event. Keep the approval with the route map and share any conditions with participants. If the land manager says no permit is needed, record the date and the guidance you received. That will help the group follow the same instructions if plans change or a new organizer takes over.

Private land needs its own clear permission. A landowner’s approval should cover the actual activity, not just an individual’s usual access. Confirm the date, route, number of machines, parking arrangements, and whether guests may bring additional riders. A permission form can make the scope easier to document; see North Dakota Landowner Permission Forms. Permission for one parcel does not automatically authorize riding across neighboring property.

On public land, permission from a local contact may not be enough if a different office manages the route or event site. Confirm that the person granting approval has authority over the relevant location. When the route crosses a road, trail, or parcel managed by someone else, treat that as a separate access question rather than assuming the starting point’s approval extends to it.

Preparing an Event Request

A clear request helps a land manager assess what the ride involves. Even if there is no formal application, sending the key details in one message reduces confusion and gives the organizer a record of what was discussed.

Include the following:

Organizer and contact details. Identify the person responsible on the event day and provide a reliable way to reach them.
Date and schedule. Include arrival, staging, ride, and departure times. If you have alternate dates, list them separately.
Expected attendance. Estimate riders, machines, support vehicles, and spectators. Say if registration is open to the public or limited to invited participants.
Route information. Provide a map or clear route description, including start and end points, planned stops, and any alternative route.
Event type. State whether it is a recreational group ride, fundraiser, commercial activity, race, or timed event. Do not describe a competition as a casual ride if it includes racing.
Staging and support. Explain where vehicles will park, where trailers will go, and whether you plan to use a facility, campground, or other site.
Safety and cleanup. Describe how the group will handle emergencies, keep participants together, respect closures, and leave the site clean.
Requested permission. Ask specifically what activity and area you want authorized, and request any conditions in writing.

Do not promise that participants will stay on a route unless the route is clearly identified and you have a plan to communicate it. A map should be useful on the ground, not just a broad screenshot. Include landmarks or turn points, and tell riders what to do if they become separated or encounter a closure.

If the ride includes a race or another organized competition, do not assume a recreational-use approval also authorizes it. Ask whether that activity is permitted at the site and whether the land manager requires additional safety measures. Organized ditch races, for example, involve a different question from a social ride on an established route; see North Dakota Organized Ditch Races by Permit. The same principle applies to any timed or competitive feature: describe it accurately before seeking approval.

Events may also involve insurance or liability documents. Requirements can differ by site and activity, so ask the land manager what it expects rather than relying on another organizer’s paperwork. If insurance is requested, confirm who must be covered, what activity and date the certificate must identify, and where it needs to be sent. North Dakota Insurance Proof on the Trail covers a separate rider-level issue; it should not be treated as a substitute for an event organizer’s requirements.

Build time into the plan for a response and possible changes. If permission is not confirmed, avoid advertising the event as approved or collecting commitments based on access you have not secured. If the route changes, tell the land manager and ask whether the new route needs separate review.

Confirming Each Rider’s Requirements Before the Event

Event approval and individual compliance are two different checklists. The organizer should make it easy for participants to understand what they must bring, while making clear that the group’s approval does not certify every machine or rider.

Before the ride, ask participants to confirm that their machine and route use are lawful. Requirements can depend on the vehicle, where it is registered, whether it is a resident or visitor machine, and the land or route being used. A visitor’s home-state registration does not necessarily settle every North Dakota access requirement. Check North Dakota Registration Versus a Non-Resident Permit for that distinction.

A state park entrance permit, where applicable, is also not the same thing as authorization to hold an organized event. It may address entry or parking rather than use of a route or event area. Confirm the relevant access requirement with the park or land manager; North Dakota State Park Entrance Permits explains the separate vehicle-access question.

Give riders the route, meeting location, event conditions, and any limits before they travel. Tell them not to leave the approved route, enter posted land, or continue through a closure. If a land manager sets a group-size limit or other condition, communicate it plainly and name a person who can help enforce it. For practical group planning, see North Dakota Group Size on a Trail and North Dakota Trail Etiquette Locals Expect.

Check the route again close to the event date. Weather, maintenance, flooding, or land-management decisions can affect access after an event has been planned. Do not assume that an earlier approval guarantees a route remains open under changed conditions. North Dakota Trail Closures After Rain is a useful reminder to check conditions rather than relying on a previous visit.

A simple day-of packet can include:

Written event approval and contact details for the responsible office
A current route map and any route restrictions
A participant list or attendance estimate
Emergency contacts and a basic response plan
Any required insurance or site documents
A reminder that each rider remains responsible for their own machine and permit requirements

If the land manager changes a condition or closes part of the route, follow that direction and communicate the change before riders set out. If the event cannot proceed within the approved route or conditions, postpone or cancel it rather than improvising an unapproved alternative.

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.