law

deed of dedication

A deed of dedication is a document by which a private owner, usually a developer, voluntarily transfers land to the government for public use. Developers commonly dedicate streets, sidewalks, parks, and utility areas within a subdivision so the municipality will accept and maintain them. Dedication is often a condition of subdivision plat approval. Once accepted, the public entity owns and controls the dedicated land.

Exam tip
Dedication is a voluntary gift of land to the public, unlike eminent domain, which is a forced taking with compensation.
Example
Before selling lots, a developer records a deed of dedication giving the new subdivision's roads to the township, which then plows and repairs them.

Related terms & state variants

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Last verified: 2026-10-23