What do surface rights grant a property owner?

Surface rights grant a property owner the rights to access and utilize the surface area of a designated parcel of real property. This includes the ability to occupy, use, and develop the land according to local laws and regulations. Surface rights are primarily concerned with what the owner can do on the land itself, such as building structures, farming, or other forms of land use.

Understanding surface rights is essential because they can be distinct from other types of rights, such as mineral rights, which refer to control over resources located beneath the surface. While surface rights allow you to make use of the land, rights to resources like minerals or oil typically belong to the property owner unless otherwise specified in legal agreements. In terms of land regulation, development above a certain height has more to do with air rights and zoning laws than with surface rights, and controlling surrounding property boundaries typically involves property lines and ownership issues, which are separate concerns.