Ownership rights of a property owner whose land borders a flowing waterway, such as a river or stream.
Why Riparian Rights matters on the exam
This term belongs to Property Ownership. The questions below are real items from Freehold's bank that use it - each one cites its source.
Exam questions using Riparian Rights
Every Freehold question shows why the right answer is right — and cites its source.
Riparian rights belong to owners of land that is adjacent to:
Flowing waterways such as rivers and streams
Large oceans and sizable inland lakes only, and nothing else whatsoever
Groundwater aquifers only
Any body of water regardless of its location relative to the property
Show answer & explanation
Flowing waterways such as rivers and streams — Riparian rights specifically apply to landowners whose property borders flowing watercourses like rivers and streams, granting them reasonable use of the water.
Source: PSI National Real Estate Exam Content Outline §1 Property Ownership
Littoral rights apply to landowners whose property borders:
Rivers and streams that flow across the parcel
Large navigable bodies of water such as oceans, seas, and large lakes
Underground water sources lying beneath the surface of the parcel itself
Man-made irrigation canals and drainage ditches that cross the property
Show answer & explanation
Large navigable bodies of water such as oceans, seas, and large lakes — Littoral rights belong to owners of land bordering large, navigable, generally non-flowing bodies of water like oceans and lakes, distinguishing them from riparian rights along rivers and streams.
Source: PSI National Real Estate Exam Content Outline §1 Property Ownership
A downtown skyscraper is built directly above active railroad tracks using structural supports that don't disturb rail operations below. This is a practical application of:
Air rights
Riparian rights
Mineral rights
Littoral rights
Show answer & explanation
Air rights — Air rights can be severed from the surface and subsurface estates and developed independently, as illustrated by buildings constructed above railroad tracks or highways using the airspace as a distinct property interest.
Source: PSI National Real Estate Exam Content Outline §1 Property Ownership
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