Rights-of-way and easements are both legal tools used to grant someone the ability to use property they don’t own, but they serve slightly different purposes.

Right-of-Way: This is a specific type of easement that grants someone the right to travel across another person’s land. It’s like getting a permanent hallway pass through your neighbor’s yard. For example, if your driveway is only accessible by crossing a strip of your neighbor’s land, you’d have a right of way.

Easement: This is a broader term that includes any legal right to use another’s land for a specific purpose. While a right of way is an easement, not all easements are rights of way. Easements can also include rights to install utilities, like power lines or sewer pipes, or even to prevent certain activities, like building structures that would block a scenic view.

Rights of way focus on passage, whereas easements can cover a range of uses and restrictions. Understanding these distinctions is key when evaluating a property.