law
inverse condemnation
A legal action brought by a property owner against a government to seek compensation when government activity has effectively taken or damaged the property without a formal eminent domain proceeding. Examples include flooding caused by a public project or regulations that eliminate nearly all use of the land. The owner, rather than the government, starts the case and asks for just compensation.
- Exam tip
- In condemnation the government sues the owner; in inverse condemnation the owner sues the government. Both relate to eminent domain and just compensation.
- Example
- A new airport runway causes constant low flights over a farmhouse, making it unlivable; the owner files an inverse condemnation suit to be paid for the loss.
Related terms & state variants
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Last verified: 2026-10-23