Water rights determine the extent to which a property owner can use the water bordering their property. Riparian rights allow owners to use water from rivers and streams that flow through or alongside their property, typically for reasonable uses. Littoral rights apply to properties bordering lakes, oceans, and seas, and generally grant the right to reasonable use and enjoyment of the water, including access for recreation. These rights are subject to state laws and regulations that govern water usage.
An owner of land bordering a river has riparian rights to use the water for irrigation, as long as it doesn't unreasonably interfere with downstream users. An owner of land bordering a lake has littoral rights to swim, boat, and fish in the lake.
Water Rights: Riparian and Littoral is tested in the Property Ownership section of the real estate exam. Questions typically present a scenario and ask you to apply the concept. Here are examples of how exam questions are phrased:
In Florida, littoral rights apply to property bordering:
In Arizona, water rights for surface water follow:
Riparian rights are those rights possessed by
Practice with all 7 related questions below to build confidence in this topic area.
Associate 'riparian' with 'river' and 'littoral' with 'lake/ocean'. Remember that these rights are appurtenant (attached) to the land and transfer with the property.
Related Terms
Practice Questions
In Florida, littoral rights apply to property bordering:
In Arizona, water rights for surface water follow:
Riparian rights are those rights possessed by
An owner of real property is in doubt whether riparian rights are included. This can BEST be determined by reviewing the
In Florida, riparian rights apply to property bordering:
Riparian rights in Michigan apply to property adjacent to:
Riparian rights in New Jersey apply to:
Related Concepts
The bundle of rights describes the rights associated with property ownership, allowing owners to use, control, enjoy, exclude others from, and dispose of the property.
A freehold estate represents ownership of real property with an indefinite duration.
A leasehold estate grants the right to possess and use property for a defined period of time, without conferring ownership.
A life estate is a freehold estate that grants ownership rights for the duration of someone's life.
Real property is immovable land and anything permanently attached to it, while personal property (also called chattels) is movable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Study This in Your State
Water Rights: Riparian and Littoral may have state-specific rules. Choose your state to study Property Ownership with localized content: