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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86447</law_id><section_number>5.1-7.3</section_number><catch_line>Duty of care and liability for damages of owners of private landing areas</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="5.1">Aviation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Aircraft, Airmen and Airports Generally</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For the purposes of this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fee</span>&#x201D; means any payment or payments of money to a <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> for use of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> or in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to engage in any activity described in subsections B and C, but does not include any action taken by another to improve the <span class="dictionary">land</span> or access to the <span class="dictionary">land</span> for the purposes set forth in subsections B and C or to remedy damage caused by such uses.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Land</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">premises</span>&#x201D; means any privately owned area for landing any <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span>, that is not open to the general public, and that is registered with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and the Federal Aviation Administration pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Registration of private landing areas not within five miles of commercial airport" href="/5.1-7.2/">5.1-7.2</a>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Landowner</span>&#x201D; means the legal title holder, lessee, occupant, or any other <span class="dictionary">person</span> in control of the <span class="dictionary">land</span> or <span class="dictionary">premises</span>. <a id="paragraph-309641" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> shall not be liable for ordinary <span class="dictionary">negligence</span> related to conditions on his <span class="dictionary">premises</span> that proximately cause damage to property or injury to occupants of an <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span> or ultralight vehicle landing on or taking off from such <span class="dictionary">premises</span>, provided that no commercial operation is being conducted on or about the <span class="dictionary">premises</span>. <a id="paragraph-309642" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> who gives permission, express or implied, to another <span class="dictionary">person</span> to operate <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span> or ultralight vehicles of any type for the personal use of such <span class="dictionary">person</span> or for the use of an easement as set forth in subsection B does not thereby: <a id="paragraph-309643" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Impliedly or expressly represent that the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> are safe for such purposes; <a id="paragraph-309644" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Grant invitee status or its corresponding duty of care to the <span class="dictionary">person</span> to whom such permission has been granted; or <a id="paragraph-309645" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any intentional or negligent acts of such <span class="dictionary">person</span> or any other <span class="dictionary">person</span>, except as provided in subsection D. <a id="paragraph-309646" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing contained in this section shall limit the liability of a <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> that may otherwise arise or exist by reason of his gross <span class="dictionary">negligence</span> or willful or <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity. The provisions of this section shall not limit the liability of a <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> that may otherwise arise or exist when the <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> receives a <span class="dictionary">fee</span> for use of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> or to engage in any activity described in subsection B or C. Nothing contained in this section shall relieve any <span class="dictionary">landowner</span> who sponsors or conducts any event or competition of the duty to exercise ordinary care in such events. <a id="paragraph-309647" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/5.1-7.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2012, c. 302.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
