Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101 (2026)

Part definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section JustiaTenn. Code CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)
- (A) "Land" or "premises" means and includes all real property, waters, private ways, trees and any building or structure that might be located on real property, waters and private ways;
- (B) "Land" or "premises" includes real property, waters, private ways, trees and any building or structure located on the land or premises, owned by any governmental entity, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee valley authority; and
- (C) "Land" or "premises" does not include the landowner's principal place of residence and any improvements erected for recreational purposes that immediately surround such residence, including, but not limited to, swimming pools, tennis or badminton courts, barbecue or horse shoe pits, jacuzzis, hot tubs or saunas;

(2)
- (A) "Landowner" means the legal title holder or owner of such land or premises, or the person entitled to immediate possession of the land or premises, and includes any lessee, occupant or any other person in control of the land or premises; and
- (B) "Landowner" includes any governmental entity.

Acts 1963, ch. 177, §§ 1, 2; T.C.A., §§ 51-801, 51-802; Acts 1987, ch. 448, §§ 1, 6-8.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 22 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1992–2026 · leading case: Parent v. State, 991 S.W.2d 240 (Tenn. 1999).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Parent v. State, 991 S.W.2d 240 (Tenn. 1999). · cites it 10× “We granted this appeal to address: (1) whether Tennessee’s recreational use statute codified at Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 70-7-101 et seq. creates a cause of action or is merely a statutory defense to other viable causes of action; and (2) whether bicycling on state-owned land is within…”

Wilkerson Ex Rel. Wilkerson v. Altizer, 845 S.W.2d 744 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 4× “The appellees have presented one issue: The trial court erred in failing to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint pursuant to the Tennessee Recreational Use Act (the Act), Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-7-101, et seq. They insist that defendants/appellees were under no duty to…”

Bishop v. Beckner, 109 S.W.3d 725 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 7× “The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that the deceased was a trespasser to whom she owed a limited duty— one that she claimed not to have violated; and that, in any event, she is immune from suit under T.C.A. § 70-7-101, et seq. (1995) (“the Recreational…”

Lonergan v. May, 53 S.W.3d 122 (Mo. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Codified Laws §§ 20-9-12 to 18 (Michie 1995); Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 70-7-101 to -105 (1995); Tex.”

In Re Tennessee Valley Auth. Ash Spill Litig., 805 F. Supp. 2d 468 (E.D. Tenn. 2011). · cites it 4× “Tennessee’s Recreational Use Statute TVA argues that under the Tennessee recreational use statute, T.C.A. §§ 70-7-101, et seq., TVA has no legal duty to keep the TVA-created and controlled Reservoir and shoreline strip safe for plaintiffs’ recreational use and enjoyment.”

Conway v. Town of Wilton, 680 A.2d 242 (Conn. 1996). “§§ 9-38-55 and 9-38-105 (1995); Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 70-7-101 through 70-7-104 (1995); Utah Code Ann.”

Sumner v. United States, 794 F. Supp. 1358 (M.D. Tenn. 1992). · cites it 2× “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 70-7-101 (term “land" used in statute means all real property, owned by the government or privately, except residences).”

Hatcher v. United States, 855 F. Supp. 2d 728 (E.D. Tenn. 2012). · cites it 2× “Alternatively, the United States seeks dismissal of plaintiffs complaint because it is barred by the Tennessee Recreational Use Statute, Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 70-7-101 et seq. I. Background On April 23, 2009, plaintiff was a visitor to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during…”

Matheny Ex Rel. Matheny v. Tennessee Valley Auth., 503 F. Supp. 2d 917 (M.D. Tenn. 2007). · cites it 2× “26) On June 29, 2007, defendant TVA moved for summary judgment on the negligence claims filed against it by the plaintiff and third-party counter-plaintiffs, alleging that, under the Tennessee Recreational Use Statute, Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 70-7-101 to - 105 (2004), the defendant…”

Tammala Thompson v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 18× “June 25, 2021) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101 (2)(A)–(B)). Here, it is undisputed that the State is the landowner of the Park.”

Homer McCaig v. Roy L. Whitmore (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 9× “Whitmore ―owed no duty to the [McCaigs] based upon the Tennessee Recreational Use Statute codified at Tenn. Code Ann. §70-7-101 et. seq.‖ That statute provides in pertinent part as follows: (a) The landowner, lessee, occupant, or any person in control of land or premises owes no…”

Weems v. Omni Hotels Mgmt. Corp. (M.D. Tenn. 2023). · cites it 8× “According to Defendant, summary judgment against Plaintiff is appropriate because, according to Defendant: (a) “Omni is immune from liability by Tennessee’s Recreational Use Statute Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101 , et seq.,” and (b) “Plaintiff cannot establish the elements of…”

Show all 22 citing cases →

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101(1) — 1 case

In Re Tennessee Valley Auth. Ash Spill Litig., 805 F. Supp. 2d 468 (E.D. Tenn. 2011). “Tennessee’s Recreational Use Statute TVA argues that under the Tennessee recreational use statute, T.C.A. §§ 70-7-101, et seq., TVA has no legal duty to keep the TVA-created and controlled Reservoir and shoreline strip safe for plaintiffs’ recreational use and enjoyment.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101(1)(C) — 1 case

Tammala Thompson v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026). “June 25, 2021) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101 (2)(A)–(B)). Here, it is undisputed that the State is the landowner of the Park.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101(A) — 1 case

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-7-101(B) — 1 case

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.