Legal Definitions - waterfront

Waterfront refers to any property, whether it's undeveloped land or land that includes buildings, that directly borders a body of water.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a developer planning to build luxury condominiums. They purchase a large parcel of undeveloped land situated directly along a scenic river. This land would be considered waterfront property because it borders the river, offering direct access and views to the water.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates waterfront as a piece of land that has a direct boundary with a body of water, even before any structures are built upon it.

• Consider a bustling seafood restaurant that has a large outdoor patio extending right up to the edge of a harbor. Diners can watch boats come and go while they eat. The restaurant building and its adjacent land are part of the waterfront, benefiting from their immediate proximity to the harbor.

  Explanation: Here, the term waterfront applies to land that has a commercial building on it and directly fronts a body of water (the harbor), highlighting its commercial use and location.

• A private homeowner owns a house with a backyard that slopes down to a private dock on a large lake. The property line extends to the water's edge, granting the homeowner direct access for swimming and boating. This residential property, including the house and its land, is a prime example of waterfront real estate.

  Explanation: This illustrates waterfront in a residential context, where land with a building (the house) directly borders a body of water (the lake), providing personal access and amenities related to that proximity.