Right-of-way
The right to travel across land, and the strip of land set aside for that travel.
Public rights-of-way carry roads, sidewalks, and the utilities beneath them. The strip usually reaches well past the visible pavement, so part of what looks like your front yard may sit inside it.
Private rights-of-way serve one or a few parcels, typically as a shared drive or access lane recorded in a deed.
Why it matters when you buy
Setbacks are measured from the right-of-way line, not from the curb, so it directly shapes where a house or addition can go.
Related terms
General educational reference only. Prescription periods and their exceptions change, and several states set the period by case law rather than by statute. Read the linked official code and consult a licensed attorney in that state before relying on any of it.
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