Legal Definitions - common of pasture

Definition: Common of pasture is a legal right to use someone else's land for grazing animals.

There are different types of common of pasture:

• Common appendant: A tenant's right to graze animals on the landowner's land as a result of long-standing practice.
• Common appurtenant: A landowner's right to graze animals on another's land as a result of a written grant relating to the ownership or occupancy of land.
• Common in gross: A right to graze animals on another's land as a result of a written grant unrelated to ownership or occupancy of land.

For example, if a farmer has a common appendant, they have the right to graze their animals on the landowner's land because it has been a long-standing practice. If a landowner has a common appurtenant, they have the right to graze their animals on another's land because of a written grant relating to the ownership or occupancy of land.

Common of pasture can also refer to a tract of land set aside for the general public's use. For instance, a park or a nature reserve can be considered a common of pasture.