What is an easement?

• A. A possessory right to ownership of land.
• B. A mortgage against the land.
• C. A non-possessory right to use part of another's land.
• D. A zoning rule.

Answer: (C)

An easement is a non-possessory right to use someone else’s land for a specific purpose. You don’t own or possess the land; you’re simply allowed to use a defined part of it. The owner (servient tenement) must permit that use, while the person or entity who holds the easement (dominant tenement) can exercise the stated right. Easements are typically tied to the land and run with it, so they remain even if ownership changes. Examples include a right-of-way to cross a neighbor’s property or a utility line corridor.

This differs from ownership or possession rights, which would give you control and exclusive use of land; from a mortgage, which is a debt secured by the property; and from zoning, which is a public regulation about how land can be used.