property
servient tenement
The servient tenement is the parcel of land that is burdened by an easement appurtenant. Its owner must allow the holder of the neighboring benefited parcel, the dominant tenement, to use the land for the easement's purpose. Because an appurtenant easement "runs with the land," the burden normally stays with the servient parcel even when it is sold to a new owner.
- Exam tip
- Remember: servient "serves" (is burdened); dominant benefits. An easement in gross has a servient tenement but no dominant tenement.
- Example
- Lot B's only driveway crosses Lot A. Lot A is the servient tenement and Lot B is the dominant tenement.
Related terms & state variants
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Last verified: 2026-10-23