Land denotes not only the surface but also any resource over or under it including minerals, energy reservoir , ground water etc.
Law concerning different kinds of ownership or rights in land within the territory of a state is its exclusive domain.
Ownership of land means the right of the owner to use and enjoy the same to the exclusion of others. In case of ‘freehold estate’ the owner has the right to enjoyment of the land in question for perpetuity or for an indefinite period. The holder of a ‘life estate’ has the right to the land only during his lifetime which, after his demise revert to the original owner. ‘Non free hold estates’ are interests of a limited or fixed duration in land. In case of ‘concurrent estates’ the same parcel of land is owned by joint or co-owners.
There were almost no land regulations in place in colonial America due to abundance of this resource. However, with urbanization the pressure on land increased. As a result, zoning regulations started coming up one after another to regualate land use pattern.In 1916 the first ever zoning ordinance in the country was introduced in New York City. Other states followed suit and by 1930 in most states or jurisdictions zoning laws were already in force. Land was seggregated for various uses such as, industry, residence, special economic zone, software park etc.Concern for environment , ecology, natural resources,energy and historic preservation resulted in further tightening up of the land use laws by 1970.
Federal, state and local statutes regulate land use in USA. The scramble for land by private groups and private developers also led to the rising state monitoring and vigil over this resource.
Land disputes can take various forms.Legal action can be initiatiated by one neigbour against the other over adjoining lands. There can be legal proceedings by and between joint or co owners of a common parcel of land for enforecement of their mutual rights and obligations. A public official also might be constrained to bring legal action against his neighbouring land owner for wrongful use of land.
Aggrieved property owners suffering environmental damages are entitled seek redrees of their grievances against the guilty, whether it be public authorities or private persons. Similarly non compliant property owners disregarding environmental norms are liable to be prosecuted.
