National Real Estate Practice Exam

Riparian Rights are associated with which of the following?

1. Adjacent land to a lake

2. Adjacent land to a river

3. Ownership of mineral rights

4. Air rights above a property

The correct answer is: Adjacent land to a river

Riparian Rights specifically pertain to the rights of landowners whose property is adjacent to a flowing body of water, such as a river or stream. These rights typically allow the landowner to make reasonable use of the water for various purposes, such as irrigation, recreation, or domestic use, while ensuring that the usage does not negatively affect other riparian owners downstream. This principle is rooted in common law and is crucial for understanding water rights in real estate. In contrast, adjacent land to a lake relates to Littoral Rights, which govern properties next to non-flowing bodies of water like lakes or oceans. Mineral rights refer to the ownership of the minerals beneath the land and are not related to water rights. Similarly, air rights concern the space above the property and also do not fall under the category of water rights. Therefore, the association of Riparian Rights with land adjacent to a river is accurate and important for anyone studying real estate law and property rights.