property
dominant tenement
The parcel of land that benefits from an easement appurtenant. The owner of the dominant tenement has the right to use part of a neighboring parcel, called the servient tenement, for a specific purpose such as access. Because the easement is attached to the land, it normally transfers automatically with the dominant parcel when it is sold.
- Exam tip
- Dominant benefits, servient burdens. Easements in gross have no dominant tenement because they benefit a person or company, not a parcel.
- Example
- A back lot is landlocked behind a front lot; the back lot owner's right to cross the front lot to reach the road makes the back lot the dominant tenement.
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Last verified: 2026-10-23