Massachusetts Real Estate License Practice Test

Which rights are associated with landowners whose property is adjacent to navigable waters?

1. Riparian rights

2. Littoral rights

3. Surface rights

4. Mineral rights

The correct answer is: Riparian rights

The correct answer, which refers to the rights associated with landowners whose property is adjacent to navigable waters, is riparian rights. Riparian rights are specific to properties that border a flowing body of water, such as a river or stream. They allow the landowner to make reasonable use of the water for purposes like irrigation, recreation, and domestic use while ensuring that these activities do not negatively affect the rights of other riparian owners along the same waterway. In contrast, littoral rights pertain to properties that border non-flowing bodies of water, such as lakes or seas. These rights allow landowners to make use of the water and its shoreline but are distinct from riparian rights, which apply to moving water. Surface rights refer to the rights to use the land's surface and do not typically encompass water rights. Mineral rights involve the rights to underground resources, such as oil, gas, or minerals, and are not related to navigable waters. Thus, riparian rights are specifically the correct answer in this context.