Glossary

Easement: A right created by grant, reservation, agreement, or necessary implication, which one has in the land of another. It is either for the benefit of land (appurtenant), such as the right to cross A to get to B, or "in gross", such as public utility easements.

An easement is an interest or right in, over or under lands owned by another person. The easement exists for a special, limited purpose, for either a term or an unlimited period. Someone holding an easement has no legal interest in the land itself, nor any right of general use or occupation. Easements may exist for many purposes. That which is most familiar to land managers, and comprising almost all applications, is commonly called "right of way".

It is a non-possessing interest held by one person in land of another whereby the first person is accorded partial use of such land for a specific purpose. An easement restricts, but does not abridge, the rights of the fee owner to the use and enjoyment of his land.

Lease: An agreement by which an owner of real property (lessor) gives the right of possession to another (lessee), for a specified period of time (term) and for specified consideration (rent).

Permit: A permit is a formal written order empowering a person or other legal entity to do some act which, without such authority, would otherwise not be allowed.

A permit is incapable of granting exclusive possession of a parcel of land. Consequently more than one permit for the same parcel of land may be issued to different persons. Permits usually cover short-term uses.

Licence: A personal privilege to do some act on the land of another.

Disposition:  an agreement that gives the Applicant the right to legally occupy the surface of land for a specific period.