§ 75.002.Liability Limited

Title 4. Liability in Tort · Chapter 75. Limitation of Landowners' Liability · Last amended 2007 · Last verified August 29, 2026

In one sentenceSection 75.002 reduces the duty owed to a recreational entrant to that owed a trespasser, on agricultural and other land alike, with governmental premises covered and a warning sign required for four activities.

Full Text of § 75.002

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

(a)An owner, lessee, or occupant of agricultural land:

(1)does not owe a duty of care to a trespasser on the land; and

(2)is not liable for any injury to a trespasser on the land, except for wilful or wanton acts or gross negligence by the owner, lessee, or other occupant of agricultural land.

(b)If an owner, lessee, or occupant of agricultural land gives permission to another or invites another to enter the premises for recreation, the owner, lessee, or occupant, by giving the permission, does not:

(1)assure that the premises are safe for that purpose;

(2)owe to the person to whom permission is granted or to whom the invitation is extended a greater degree of care than is owed to a trespasser on the premises; or

(3)assume responsibility or incur liability for any injury to any individual or property caused by any act of the person to whom permission is granted or to whom the invitation is extended.

(c)If an owner, lessee, or occupant of real property other than agricultural land gives permission to another to enter the premises for recreation, the owner, lessee, or occupant, by giving the permission, does not:

(1)assure that the premises are safe for that purpose;

(2)owe to the person to whom permission is granted a greater degree of care than is owed to a trespasser on the premises; or

(3)assume responsibility or incur liability for any injury to any individual or property caused by any act of the person to whom permission is granted.

(d)Subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall not limit the liability of an owner, lessee, or occupant of real property who has been grossly negligent or has acted with malicious intent or in bad faith.

(e)In this section, "recreation" means, in addition to its meaning under Section 75.001, the following activities only if the activities take place on premises owned, operated, or maintained by a governmental unit for the purposes of those activities:

(1)hockey and in-line hockey;

(2)skating, in-line skating, roller-skating, skateboarding, and roller-blading;

(3)soap box derby use; and

(4)paintball use.

(f)Notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (c), if a person enters premises owned, operated, or maintained by a governmental unit and engages in recreation on those premises, the governmental unit does not owe to the person a greater degree of care than is owed to a trespasser on the premises.

(g)Any premises a governmental unit owns, operates, or maintains and on which the recreational activities described in Subsections (e)(1)-(4) are conducted shall post and maintain a clearly readable sign in a clearly visible location on or near the premises. The sign shall contain the following warning language: WARNING TEXAS LAW (CHAPTER 75, CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE) LIMITS THE LIABILITY OF A GOVERNMENTAL UNIT FOR DAMAGES ARISING DIRECTLY FROM HOCKEY, IN-LINE HOCKEY, SKATING, IN-LINE SKATING, ROLLER-SKATING, SKATEBOARDING, ROLLER-BLADING, PAINTBALL USE, OR SOAP BOX DERBY USE ON PREMISES THAT THE GOVERNMENTAL UNIT OWNS, OPERATES, OR MAINTAINS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

(h)An owner, lessee, or occupant of real property in this state is liable for trespass as a result of migration or transport of any air contaminant, as defined in Section 382.003(2), Health and Safety Code, other than odor, only upon a showing of actual and substantial damages by a plaintiff in a civil action.

(i)Subsections (b) and (c) do not affect any liability of an owner, lessee, or occupant of real property for an injury occurring outside the boundaries of the real property caused by an activity described by Section 75.001(3)(P) that originates within the boundaries of the real property.

End

Plain-English Summary

The core of the recreational use statute, and it works by lowering a duty rather than granting an immunity.

On agricultural land, an owner, lessee, or occupant does not owe a duty of care to a trespasser and is not liable for any injury to a trespasser except for wilful or wanton acts or gross negligence.

Where permission is given for recreation — on agricultural land under subsection (b), on other real property under subsection (c) — the owner by giving permission does not: assure that the premises are safe; owe a greater degree of care than is owed to a trespasser; or assume responsibility for any injury caused by an act of the person permitted to enter.

The middle clause is the operative one. A person invited onto land for recreation would ordinarily be an invitee or licensee, owed a real duty. This reduces that to the trespasser standard — liability only for wilful, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct.

Subsection (d) preserves the floor: the limits do not apply to an owner who has been grossly negligent or has acted with malicious intent or in bad faith.

Subsection (f) covers governmental premises: a person who enters premises a governmental unit owns, operates, or maintains and engages in recreation is owed no greater degree of care than a trespasser — which is why the Tort Claims Act yields to this chapter.

Subsection (e) adds four activities on governmental premises only: hockey and in-line hockey; skating, in-line skating, roller-skating, skateboarding, and roller-blading; soap box derby use; and paintball use. Subsection (g) requires a clearly readable warning sign in a visible location where those activities are conducted.

Subsection (h) is unrelated to recreation and sits here for historical reasons: liability for trespass by migration or transport of an air contaminant, other than odor, requires a showing of actual and substantial damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What duty is owed to someone using my land for recreation in Texas?

No greater than the duty owed a trespasser — liability only for wilful or wanton acts or gross negligence.

Does giving permission increase my duty?

No. By giving permission you do not assure the premises are safe, owe a greater degree of care than to a trespasser, or assume responsibility for the entrant's own acts.

Does it apply to public parks?

Yes. A person entering premises a governmental unit owns, operates, or maintains and engaging in recreation is owed no greater care than a trespasser.

When is a warning sign required?

On governmental premises where hockey, skating, skateboarding, soap box derby, or paintball activities are conducted.

Is there any conduct the statute does not protect?

Yes. It does not limit liability for gross negligence, malicious intent, or bad faith.

Amendment History

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 56, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 734, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 21.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 116 (S.B. 1224), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 932 (H.B. 616), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 227 (H.B. 1560), Sec. 1, eff. May 25, 2007.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 659 (H.B. 1183), Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 2007.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov). Enacted by the Texas Legislature. Current through May 14, 2026. Last verified August 29, 2026. · Official source