Certified Residential Appraiser Practice Exam

What do littoral rights pertain to?

1. Rights of landowners adjacent to rivers

2. Rights of landowners adjacent to lakes

3. Rights to build on coastal properties

4. Rights of landowners adjacent to wetlands

The correct answer is: Rights of landowners adjacent to lakes

Littoral rights refer specifically to the entitlements of landowners whose properties are adjacent to large bodies of water, such as lakes, oceans, or seas. These rights allow the landowner to use and enjoy the water at the shore, including activities like swimming, fishing, and direct access to the water. Littoral rights differ from riparian rights, which apply to properties adjacent to flowing bodies of water like rivers and streams. In this context, the focus on lakes aligns perfectly with the definition of littoral rights, emphasizing that the landowner has rights concerning water levels, access, and the use of the shoreline of non-flowing water bodies. The other choices reference rights associated with rivers, coastal properties, or wetlands, which do not fall under the classification of littoral rights. Instead, these other situations are governed by different sets of legal principles related to the type of water body involved. Thus, the answer that pertains specifically to littoral rights is indeed correct, highlighting the connection between these rights and land adjacent to lakes.