Legal Definitions - francbordus

The term francbordus refers to a legal concept requiring a clear, unobstructed space or margin around a property, structure, or boundary. Essentially meaning a "free border" or "clear edge," this designated area serves to prevent encroachment, ensure access for maintenance or other purposes, or maintain a specific right of way.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Construction Setback Requirement: Imagine a city's zoning regulations that mandate all new commercial buildings must be constructed at least 20 feet back from the public sidewalk. This 20-foot strip of land, often landscaped, cannot have any part of the building extending into it.

  This setback acts as a francbordus. It ensures a clear margin between the private property and the public thoroughfare, allowing for pedestrian flow, public utilities, and maintaining an open aesthetic, while preventing the building from encroaching directly onto public space.

• Pipeline Easement: A natural gas company holds an easement across a private landowner's property, allowing them to bury and maintain a pipeline. The easement agreement specifies a 25-foot wide corridor above the pipeline that must remain free of permanent structures, deep-rooted trees, or significant landscaping.

  This 25-foot clear corridor is the francbordus. It guarantees that the gas company has unobstructed access to the pipeline for inspections, repairs, or emergency work, preventing the landowner from building anything that would impede this critical infrastructure.

• Historical Right-of-Way for Drainage: In an older residential neighborhood, property deeds might include a clause requiring a 3-foot wide strip along the rear property line to be kept clear of fences, sheds, or other obstructions. This strip is intended to allow for natural water runoff and access for maintaining shared drainage systems.

  This 3-foot clear strip functions as a francbordus. It ensures that water can drain freely across properties and that neighbors or utility workers can access the drainage path without impediment, preventing water accumulation issues and maintaining a communal benefit.