Landowner owes no duty of care to persons entering without fee to keep land safe for recreational use
If someone goes on another person's land for free to do things like hike or fish, the landowner does not have to make that land safe or warn people about dangers there. Also, if a trespasser sneaks onto someone's yard or land from a nearby park or trail and gets hurt, the landowner is not responsible for those injuries.
537.346. Landowner owes no to persons entering without fee to keep land safe for — for injuries of on land to park or trail. — 1. Except as provided in sections 537.345 to 537.348, and section 537.351, an owner of land owes no duty of care to any person who enters on the land without charge to keep his or her land safe for recreational use or to give any general or specific warning with respect to any natural or , structure, or thereon.
2. No owner of land shall be for injuries of a trespasser occurring on his or her or , as those terms are defined in section 537.348, if such area or land is adjacent to a park, as defined in section 253.010, or a trail, as defined in section 258.100, if such trespasser is accessing or accessed the owner's property from the adjacent park or trail.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1983 S.B. 162 § 2, A.L. 2012 S.B. 628, A.L. 2021 H.B. 369)
Related Missouri laws
Definitions for sections 537.345 to 537.347 and 537.351
RSMo 537.345
Landowner directly or indirectly invites or permits persons on land for recreation or wildlife management, effect
RSMo 537.347
Landowner liable, when
RSMo 537.348
Liability of landowner to trespasser, immunity where trespasser under influence of drugs or alcohol
RSMo 537.349
Double damages for throwing down gates and fences
RSMo 537.350
Trespassers, no duty of care by owners, exception
RSMo 537.351
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.