What is an appurtenant easement?

An appurtenant easement refers to a legal right that allows one property owner to use a portion of another property for a specific purpose, such as gaining access to a road or a body of water. The key characteristic of an appurtenant easement is that it benefits a parcel of land (the dominant estate) while burdening another parcel of land (the servient estate). This type of easement is generally tied to the land itself, and it typically remains in effect even if the dominant estate is sold or transferred to a new owner.

In this context, the definition encapsulates the essential nature of appurtenant easements, distinguishing them from other types of easements and legal rights related to property ownership. This understanding helps clarify how appurtenant easements function in real estate, emphasizing the relationship between the properties involved and the perpetual nature of the easement in question.