Which statement defines an easement?

Which statement defines an easement?

• A. An easement is an interest in land owned by another person
• B. An easement is a form of ownership identical to fee simple
• C. An easement is a mortgage on property
• D. An easement is a license to occupy land temporarily

Answer: (B)

An easement is a non-possessory interest in land held by someone other than the owner that gives the right to use the land for a specific purpose. It means you don’t own the land or its full bundle of rights, but you can use it in a limited way because someone else owns the underlying property. This makes the clear definition: an easement is an interest in land owned by another person. It’s not ownership in fee simple, it’s not a mortgage, and it’s not merely a temporary license to occupy land. A license is revocable permission to use land, whereas an easement is a property interest that generally binds current and future owners and runs with the land. For example, a right of way or a utility line across a property is an easement, allowing use without transferring ownership.

An easement is a non-possessory interest in land held by someone other than the owner that gives the right to use the land for a specific purpose. It means you don’t own the land or its full bundle of rights, but you can use it in a limited way because someone else owns the underlying property.

This makes the clear definition: an easement is an interest in land owned by another person. It’s not ownership in fee simple, it’s not a mortgage, and it’s not merely a temporary license to occupy land. A license is revocable permission to use land, whereas an easement is a property interest that generally binds current and future owners and runs with the land. For example, a right of way or a utility line across a property is an easement, allowing use without transferring ownership.