property

easement

An easement is a nonpossessory right to use another person's land for a specific purpose, such as a driveway, utility line, or path. The owner keeps title and possession but must allow the permitted use. Easements can be created by express grant, implication, necessity, or prescription, and they may be appurtenant (benefiting a neighboring parcel) or in gross (benefiting a person or company). An easement is a type of encumbrance on title.

Exam tip: Don't confuse an easement with a license: a license is a personal, revocable permission, while an easement is an interest in land. Know appurtenant versus in gross.
Example: The power company holds a 10-foot easement along the back of every lot to run and maintain overhead lines, even though the homeowners own the land.

1. An easement that benefits an adjoining parcel of land is called:

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. An easement appurtenant runs with the land and benefits a dominant tenement (the adjoining parcel). An easement in gross benefits a person or company, not land.

Related terms & state variants

easement appurtenant easement in gross encumbrance license servient tenement

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23