Legal Definitions - fast land

Fast land refers to land that is permanently above the ordinary high-water mark of a body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean. It is stable, dry ground that is not regularly submerged by tides or floods. This term distinguishes solid, upland property from areas that are periodically or permanently covered by water, like submerged lands, tidelands, or wetlands.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of fast land:

• Imagine a homeowner who owns a property along the coast. The portion of their land where their house stands, along with their garden and driveway, is considered fast land because it remains dry and above the reach of normal high tides. The sandy beach area in front of their property, which is regularly covered and uncovered by the ocean's tides, would generally not be considered fast land, as it is subject to the ebb and flow of the water.

• Consider a farmer whose fields border a large river. The elevated sections of their property where crops are planted, which are well above the river's typical water level and do not flood during seasonal rains, constitute fast land. In contrast, any low-lying marshy areas directly adjacent to the riverbank that are regularly inundated when the river swells would not be classified as fast land, as they are not permanently dry.

• A developer plans to build a new commercial complex next to a large freshwater lake. The specific parcel of land where the buildings, parking lots, and access roads will be constructed is situated on a stable, elevated plateau that has historically remained dry and unaffected by the lake's water levels. This stable, dry ground is an example of fast land, distinct from the lakebed itself or any adjacent wetlands that might be seasonally submerged.