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
Real property is immovable land and anything permanently attached to it, while personal property (also called chattels) is movable.
Joint tenancy is a form of co-ownership in which two or more persons hold equal, undivided interests in property with the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, their interest automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants.
Tenancy in common is a form of co-ownership in which two or more persons hold separate, undivided interests in property without the right of survivorship. Each owner can hold unequal shares and can independently transfer their interest.
Tenancy by the entirety is a form of co-ownership available only to married couples that includes the right of survivorship and protection from individual creditors. Neither spouse can unilaterally sell or encumber the property.
Community property is a form of ownership recognized in certain states where property acquired during marriage is considered equally owned by both spouses, regardless of who earned the money or whose name is on the title.
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: