How are Property and Ownership Rights Limited?
Government Limits on Property Rights
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at September 24th, 2021
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How are property ownership rights limited?
The US Constitution protects individual ownership rights in property. The concept of property allows the owner to exclude others from possessing or using that property. Nonetheless, laws may limit property by regulating when and how a person can use her property. In general, owners are prohibited from using their resources in ways that harm or injure others. The Federal Government limits the use of property through its power to regulate interstate commerce. State and local governments regulate the use of property pursuant to their police power to protect the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of its citizens.
Related Topics
- What is nuisance?
- What is Zoning?
- What is Eminent Domain?
- What is Property Taxation?
- Homeowners Association (HOA)
Next Article: Nuisance - Property Back to: PROPERTY LAW
Related Topics
- Tangible and Intangible property?
- Real and Personal Property?
- Fixtures?
- What is ownership?
- Role of Government in ownership of property?
- Role of property rights in economic activity?
Discussion Question
How do you feel about the ability of the federal, state, and local governments to infringe upon a property owners rights? Does it matter to you that the ability to infringe upon property rights is derivative power, where the constitutional protections of property rights are express? Why or why not?
Academic Research
- Cass, Ronald A., Property Rights Systems and the Rule of Law. THE ELGAR COMPANION TO PROPERTY RIGHT ECONOMICS, Enrico Colombatto, ed., Edward Elgar Publications, 2003. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=392783 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.392783
- Power, Garrett, Constitutional Limitations on Land Use Controls, Environmental Regulations and Governmental Exactions, 2013 Edition (2013). U of Maryland Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2013-15. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2235598 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2235598