Reviewed by Casa Academy and updated July 29, 2026 using the current DBPR checklist and Pearson VUE scheduling guidance.

Abutting

Abutting describes two or more parcels of land that share a common boundary line without a street, alley, or other intervening strip between them.

Exam context

Expect vignettes with a map or metes-and-bounds description. The trap is calling lots abutting when a lane, creek, or utility easement sits between them. Correct answers require direct boundary contact.

How abutting differs from adjacent

Adjacent parcels sit near each other but may be separated by a roadway, easement, or open space. Abutting parcels touch along a shared property line. On exams, a question may describe two lots separated by a private driveway easement: they are adjacent, not abutting, because the easement breaks direct contact.

Why the distinction matters in practice

Setback rules, party-wall maintenance, and some zoning calculations depend on whether properties share a boundary. Surveyors note abutting owners on plats, and title reports flag shared boundary disputes. License candidates should read the fact pattern for an intervening strip before selecting abutting in an answer choice.

Examples

  • Shared rear line

    Lot 12 and Lot 13 share a north-south fence line with no gap. They abut along that line.

  • Lots across a street

    Two residential parcels face each other across a public road. They are adjacent in location but not abutting because the road intervenes.

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