North Dakota Landowner Permission Forms

Getting permission to ride across private land in North Dakota is easier when the terms are clear and written down. A signed form can help prevent misunderstandings about who may ride, where, and when—but it is not a state registration, trail permit, or substitute for following riding laws. Here’s what to include, who should sign, and when permission does not cover the route you have in mind.

When a Permission Form Helps

A landowner permission form records an agreement between the person who controls a property and the rider who wants to use it. It can be useful for a one-time crossing, repeated access to a field or trail, or a group ride that passes over private ground. It gives both sides a reference if someone later has a different recollection of what was allowed.

A form is not necessarily required for every ride on private land. Nor is a form a universal pass to travel across the area. North Dakota does not have one general landowner permission form that riders can use to authorize every kind of OHV access. A landowner may use a custom form, a written message, or another clear record of consent. The important point is that the permission comes from someone with authority over the land and covers the activity you plan to do.

Written permission is especially helpful when:

• The property is posted, gated, leased, or shared among several people.
• You will return more than once or bring other riders.
• The route crosses multiple parcels or uses a specific trail or field edge.
• Permission comes with conditions, such as speed limits, quiet hours, or seasonal closures.
• You are organizing a ride and need to show participants where they are allowed to go.

Even a clear form has limits. Permission to ride on one parcel does not authorize travel across a neighbor’s property, a public road, a railroad bed, or a trail with separate access rules. It also does not make an unregistered machine legal to operate where registration is required. For related rules, see North Dakota Posted Land Permission and North Dakota Trespass Law for Riders.

If the route touches land marked with signs or another posting method, do not treat a form for a different parcel as permission to enter. Check the boundary and confirm the authorization applies to the exact land you will cross. North Dakota Posted Land Signs and Riders explains why the details of posted boundaries matter.

Permission is not the same as a permit

A landowner’s consent addresses access to that person’s property. It does not replace state registration, a visitor permit when one is required, a safety certificate where applicable, or any other operating requirement. It also cannot authorize riding on land the signer does not control.

Likewise, a landowner cannot make a closed public trail open by signing a private permission form. Public land may be managed by an agency, and access can depend on the land designation, route, season, and agency rules. Before planning a ride, identify who manages each section and confirm that OHV use is allowed there.

A form may be part of a sensible access plan, but it is only one part. Riders still need to follow applicable rules for the machine, route, age of the operator, equipment, and road use. See North Dakota Landowner Permission Forms for related questions about permission records, and North Dakota Registration and Trail Access for the distinction between registration and access.

What to Put on the Form

A useful form should make the permission easy to understand without trying to cover every possible legal issue. Use plain language and make the boundaries and conditions specific. If the landowner already has a form, ask whether it can be completed or supplemented with the missing details rather than creating a competing version.

Form detail	What to record	Why it matters
Landowner or authorized contact	Name and reliable contact information	Helps riders confirm who granted permission
Property location	Address, legal description, parcel reference, or marked map	Reduces confusion about boundaries
Authorized riders	Named people, household, crew, or defined group	Makes clear whether permission extends beyond the person asking
Machines and activity	ATV, UTV, other OHV, and whether riding or crossing is allowed	Avoids assuming all machines or activities are included
Approved route	Map, trail description, entrance and exit points	Keeps riders from wandering onto adjoining land
Dates or period	Specific date, season, or end date	Avoids assuming permission continues indefinitely
Conditions	Speed, hours, gates, parking, noise, passengers, or other limits	Makes expectations visible before the ride
Signatures	Landowner or authorized representative and rider or organizer	Records that both sides accepted the terms

For the property description, a map can be more useful than a street address alone. Mark the entry point, the permitted route, the exit point, and any areas riders must avoid. If the route is only a corridor across a larger parcel, say so. A broad phrase such as “permission to ride on my land” can invite disagreement if the landowner meant a particular trail and the rider understood it to include the whole property.

Be precise about who is covered. If one person asks for permission but plans to bring a group, the form should say whether the permission applies to the named riders, the group, or a specified number of guests. An organizer should not assume that a signed form for the organizer automatically covers every participant. Written authorization should match the actual ride plan.

State what machines are allowed. A landowner may be comfortable with a small ATV but not a wide side-by-side, or may allow a direct crossing but not recreational riding. If machine size, width, passenger use, or towing matters, put the restriction in the form. Riders should also verify that the machine is permitted on the route itself; landowner consent cannot change a roadway or trail’s operating rules.

Dates, conditions, and cancellation

Permission can be for a single ride, a defined period, or a recurring arrangement. Include start and end dates if the access is temporary. If permission is intended to continue until withdrawn, say that clearly and provide a way to notify riders when it changes.

List any conditions that affect the ride. Common examples include:

• Use only the marked route and do not make new tracks.
• Close and latch gates as directed.
• Keep clear of crops, livestock, buildings, and equipment.
• Park only at the approved staging area.
• Do not bring additional riders without asking.
• Stop riding during wet conditions or when requested by the landowner.

A form should not imply that permission is permanent or impossible to withdraw. If a landowner changes access, riders should respect the change and stop using the route. If a group has already planned a ride, confirm that permission remains current shortly before departure.

Getting Permission and Using It Responsibly

Start by identifying the person who has authority to grant access. The owner may not be the person who farms or occupies the land, and a tenant’s authority may be limited by a lease or agreement. If someone other than the owner offers permission, ask whether that person is authorized to allow OHV riding. When the property has multiple owners or managers, make sure the necessary people agree.

Contact the landowner before arriving with machines. Explain the route, the reason for access, the number of riders, the type of machines, and the date or frequency of the ride. A specific request is easier to answer than a general request to “ride the property.” If the landowner has concerns, adjust the route or conditions before signing.

A straightforward process helps:

1. Identify the parcel and the route you want to use.
2. Find the owner or authorized land manager and ask directly.
3. Describe the machines, riders, dates, and purpose.
4. Put the agreed route and conditions in writing, with a map if needed.
5. Give each rider the relevant restrictions and emergency contact details.
6. Check that permission is still valid before a later ride.
7. Stop using the route if permission is withdrawn or the landowner asks you to leave.

Keep a copy accessible while riding. A paper copy in a vehicle or riding pack can help when a phone has no service or its battery is depleted. A digital copy is useful too, but do not rely on a screenshot that omits the map or conditions. Share the full agreement with the group, not just the organizer.

A permission form is not a substitute for a conversation. If you are uncertain whether a gate may be opened, where to park, or whether riding is allowed during a particular season, ask rather than guessing. Leave the property as agreed, avoid creating ruts, and report damage or a problem promptly. Good conduct helps protect access for future rides; a form alone cannot do that.

Riders should also think about liability and insurance. A landowner’s signature does not automatically settle responsibility if someone is injured or property is damaged. The form should not be treated as a waiver unless it was intentionally drafted for that purpose and properly reviewed. Riders and organizers can discuss insurance with a qualified professional, especially for larger events or recurring access. For broader access considerations, see Permission Slips Worth Carrying and Insurance a Landowner May Ask About.

Groups, children, and organized rides

For a group ride, name the organizer and identify who is responsible for communicating the conditions. The landowner should know how many people and machines to expect, whether guests may join, and whether the route will be used at the same time by other people. A permission form for a private family outing may not suit a club event or a ride advertised to the public.

When children are involved, confirm who is supervising them and whether the landowner has limits on age, machine type, or riding area. The permission form does not override rules that apply to young riders. Make sure the adults in charge understand both the landowner’s conditions and the operating requirements for the children’s machines.

For an organized event, seek permission early and describe the event accurately. The landowner may want limits on group size, time, parking, or the number of passes over a route. If the event uses public land as well as private property, obtain authorization from the relevant manager for each area. A private landowner’s approval does not provide an event permit or access rights on public ground.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common problem is assuming permission extends farther than it does. A neighbor’s approval is not approval from every landowner along a route. A form for a field does not necessarily include the road ditch, shelterbelt, staging area, or the other side of a fence. Confirm each parcel and each segment rather than relying on a general route description.

Other avoidable mistakes include:

• Treating no sign as permission. The absence of a sign is not the same as consent. Ask before entering private land.
• Relying on an old message. Permission may have been limited to a past date or changed since it was given. Confirm before returning.
• Assuming a tenant can authorize access. Verify the person’s authority, especially when the owner and occupant are different.
• Inviting extra riders without checking. Permission for one person may not cover a group.
• Using a vague route description. Attach a map or describe entry, travel, and exit points.
• Ignoring conditions after the form is signed. The agreement is only useful if riders follow it.
• Confusing private permission with public access. Different land managers may control adjacent parcels and trails.

A permission form also cannot fix an unclear boundary. If a fence, field edge, or map line does not match the route, stop and ask before proceeding. Do not assume that a visible track is open to OHVs simply because other riders have used it. The safest approach is to treat uncertainty as a reason to verify access, not as an invitation to continue.

If a disagreement occurs, leave the property when asked and avoid turning a route question into a confrontation. Keep the form and any related messages, and follow up later with the person who granted permission. If the disagreement involves a boundary, a lease, or legal rights, get advice from an appropriate professional rather than relying on a rider’s interpretation of the form.

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.