At Home With Lisa-Do You Know The Difference Between Riparian vs. Non-Riparian Rights?

Captain John Smith once said of the Chesapeake Bay region that, "Heaven and Earth never agreed to frame a better place for man's habitation".  I have to agree with him.  The Chesapeake Bay region is a beautiful place to live and an area many people call home.

Whether it’s on an ocean, lake, river or bay, there is just something that people love about being near the water. Because of this, Maryland waterfront homes are very popular among state residents. Many people dream of living near the water. While there are great benefits to living on the waterfront, there are  critical things to know when buying a waterfront home such as will you have riparian or non-riparian rights!  What is that?  

 Ripa is a Latin word, which could be defined in English as a river. The term Riparian is defined as “pertaining to, or situated on, the bank of a river”.

When Maryland waterfront homes have riparian rights it means that they have a deed that extends all the way to the water’s edge. The water (ocean, bay, river, stream, etc.) actually forms one of the property’s boundary lines. When you own riparian rights you have direct access to the water and the right to extend use into the water (ex: building a pier) with the approval of the local government. An important restriction on this regulation is that your right to extend and improve your lot cannot encroach upon the neighbors rights.

When a home is non-riparian it means that there is water access, but the property leading up to the water is not owned by the homeowner. It is typically owned by a community association or county. In most cases, a house that does not have riparian rights means the homeowner does not have a pier or dock in the water. However, there are communities that will grant the owners access to the water.

Homeowners with waterfront property have many rules and regulations that they must follow. Before making an offer on any Maryland waterfront homes, you will want to understand what regulations apply and how they will impact you.

I'm Lisa Longest with Realty Navigator. I am a full time Realtor® in Anne Arundel and Queen Anne Counties. I am here for all your real estate needs. If you are looking to buy, sell or question me about the market in your area, feel free to contact me. My email is LisaLongest.RE@Gmail.com and cell is 443-786-4200.