Legal Definitions - abut

To abut means for two things, typically pieces of land or structures, to be directly next to each other, sharing a common boundary or border. When properties or objects abut, their boundaries touch along a shared line.

• Example 1: Residential Property and Public Park
  Imagine a suburban house whose backyard fence runs directly along the edge of a city-owned public park.

  Explanation: The homeowner's propertyabuts the public park because their property line directly borders and touches the park's boundary. This direct contact might influence local zoning rules or the homeowner's responsibilities regarding the shared border.

• Example 2: Commercial Buildings in a City Block
  Consider two separate commercial buildings in a downtown area that are built right next to each other, sharing a common side wall.

  Explanation: These two commercial buildings abut each other along that shared wall. This direct adjacency can have implications for shared maintenance responsibilities, fire safety regulations, or even potential future development plans that might affect both structures.

• Example 3: Farmland and a Public Road
  A large agricultural field extends all the way to the edge of a state highway, with no intervening land.

  Explanation: The farmer's land abuts the state highway. This means the field's boundary directly touches the highway's right-of-way. This direct connection can affect access rights to the road, requirements for fencing, or even potential eminent domain considerations if the highway needs to be expanded.