2026 Nevada Revised StatutesChapter 41 – Actions And Proceedings In Particular Cases Concerning PersonsNRS 41.510 Limitation of liability; exceptions for malicious acts if consideration is given or other duty exists.

Statutory Text

1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, an owner of any estate or interest in any premises, or a lessee or an occupant of any premises, owes no duty to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others for participating in any recreational activity, or to give warning of any hazardous condition, activity or use of any structure on the premises to persons entering for those purposes.

2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, if an owner, lessee or occupant of premises gives permission to another person to participate in recreational activities upon those premises:

(a) The owner, lessee or occupant does not thereby extend any assurance that the premises are safe for that purpose or assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by any act of persons to whom the permission is granted.

(b) That person does not thereby acquire any property rights in or rights of easement to the premises.

3.  This section does not:

(a) Limit the liability which would otherwise exist for:

(1) Willful or malicious failure to guard, or to warn against, a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity.

(2) Injury suffered in any case where permission to participate in recreational activities was granted for a consideration other than the consideration, if any, paid to the landowner by the State or any subdivision thereof. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the price paid for a game tag sold pursuant to NRS 502.145 by an owner, lessee or manager of the premises shall not be deemed consideration given for permission to hunt on the premises.

(3) Injury caused by acts of persons to whom permission to participate in recreational activities was granted, to other persons as to whom the person granting permission, or the owner, lessee or occupant of the premises, owed a duty to keep the premises safe or to warn of danger.

(b) Create a duty of care or ground of liability for injury to person or property.

4.  As used in this section, “recreational activity” includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Hunting, fishing or trapping;

(b) Camping, hiking or picnicking;

(c) Sightseeing or viewing or enjoying archaeological, scenic, natural or scientific sites;

(d) Hang gliding or paragliding;

(e) Spelunking;

(f) Collecting rocks;

(g) Participation in winter sports, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or riding a snowmobile, or water sports;

(h) Riding animals, riding in vehicles or riding a road, mountain or electric bicycle;

(i) Studying nature;

(j) Gleaning;

(k) Recreational gardening; and

(l) Crossing over to public land or land dedicated for public use.

(Added to NRS by 1963, 799; A 1971, 192; 1973, 898; 1981, 157; 1991, 185, 2156; 1993, 1191; 1995, 54, 790; 2007, 631; 2021, 1744)

NV Rev Stat § 41.510 – Last Verified February 2026

Plain English Explanation

Nevada law gives property owners significant protection when they allow people to use their land for recreational activities. Under NRS 41.510, if someone owns, leases, or occupies a piece of property, they generally have no legal obligation to make that land safe for recreational visitors. They also have no duty to warn those visitors about hazards on the property.

This protection applies whether the landowner formally invites someone or simply allows them to enter. Letting a person onto your property for recreational purposes does not mean you are guaranteeing their safety or taking on responsibility if they get hurt. The person entering also does not gain any ownership interest or easement rights in the land just by being allowed to use it.

The law covers a wide range of recreational activities. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking, hang gliding, spelunking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, rock collecting, sightseeing, studying nature, recreational gardening, and even crossing over to reach public land all fall under this statute. Bicycling, including mountain and electric bikes, is also included.

There are important exceptions to this protection though. A landowner can still be held liable if they willfully or maliciously failed to warn someone about a dangerous condition. If a property owner charges an entry fee or receives some other form of payment specifically for allowing recreational access, the liability protection goes away. The law also does not protect landowners from injuries caused to third parties when a duty of care already existed toward those people.

One specific note in the law addresses hunting tags. If a hunter purchases a game tag under NRS 502.145, that payment is not considered “consideration” to the landowner, meaning the landowner keeps their liability protection in that situation.

The bottom line is that this law encourages landowners to open their property for public recreational use by limiting the legal risk they take on when doing so.

Frequently Asked Questions About NRS 41.510

Can I sue a landowner if I get hurt on their property while hiking or hunting in Nevada?

Generally, no. Nevada’s recreational use statute protects landowners from lawsuits when someone is injured while using their land for recreational activities. If the landowner did not charge you to be there and did not act in a willful or malicious way that contributed to your injury, they are largely shielded from liability. However, if they deliberately ignored a known danger without any warning, you may have a case.

Does this law only protect large ranches or rural properties?

No. The statute applies to any owner, lessee, or occupant of premises, which means it is not limited to sprawling rural land. Any property where recreational activity takes place could potentially fall under this protection, as long as the other conditions of the law are met.

If a landowner charges an entry fee, does this law still protect them?

No. Once a landowner accepts payment specifically for granting recreational access, the liability protection disappears. The law is designed to encourage free and open access to private land. Charging a fee changes that dynamic entirely and opens the door to potential legal responsibility if someone gets hurt.

Does allowing someone on my property give them any rights to the land?

No. Under this statute, giving someone permission to use your land for recreational purposes does not create any property rights or easements in their favor. They are simply a permitted visitor and nothing more.

What if the landowner knew about a dangerous condition and said nothing?

This is where the law draws a firm line. If a landowner willfully or maliciously failed to warn someone about a hazard they knew about, the liability protection no longer applies. The key word here is willful. A simple oversight is treated very differently under the law than a deliberate decision to stay silent about a known danger.

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property and aren’t sure whether Nevada’s recreational use law affects your right to compensation, the experienced team at Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers can review your situation and help you understand your options. Don’t let complex statutes stand between you and the justice you deserve – reach out to Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers today for a consultation.