property

littoral rights

Littoral rights are the rights of an owner whose land borders a large, navigable, non-flowing body of water such as a lake, sea, or ocean. They typically include reasonable use and access to the water. In many cases the owner holds title only to the mean high-water mark, with the land beyond belonging to the state. Rules on exact boundaries and use vary by state.

Exam tip
The classic confusion is littoral versus riparian: littoral relates to lakes, seas, and oceans (still or tidal water), while riparian relates to flowing rivers and streams.
Example
An owner of a beach house on the Atlantic Ocean has littoral rights. An owner of a cabin along a running river has riparian rights.

Related terms & state variants

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23