Legal Definitions - bare license

A bare license is a simple, informal permission granted by a property owner to another person, allowing them to enter or use the owner's land for a specific purpose. Unlike a lease or an easement, a bare license does not involve any payment or contractual agreement, nor does it create any legal interest in the property for the person receiving the permission. Because it is given without any formal exchange or consideration, the property owner can revoke a bare license at any time, without notice.

Here are some examples illustrating a bare license:

• Imagine a homeowner who tells their neighbor, "You're welcome to use my swimming pool this afternoon while I'm out." This is a bare license. The homeowner has given permission for the neighbor to enter their property and use the pool. There is no payment involved, no formal contract, and the homeowner can change their mind and revoke this permission at any time, even if the neighbor is already swimming. The neighbor gains no permanent right or interest in the pool or property.

• Consider a farmer who allows a local hiking club to walk across a specific, unused field on their property for a single Saturday morning outing. This permission is a bare license. The farmer is granting temporary access without any compensation or formal agreement. The hiking club does not acquire any permanent right-of-way or ownership interest in the field. The farmer can withdraw this permission at any point, even on the morning of the hike, and the club would have no legal recourse to insist on using the field.

• A small business owner permits a local high school student to set up a lemonade stand on a corner of their private parking lot for a few hours on a hot day. This is an example of a bare license. The business owner is allowing the student to occupy a small part of their property without any rent or formal lease agreement. The student does not gain any tenancy rights or a permanent claim to that spot. The business owner can ask the student to pack up and leave at any time, for any reason, and the student would be legally obligated to comply.