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.
Keep studying
Related terms
- Legal descriptionsHow boundaries are written in deeds and surveys.
- AppurtenantRights that attach to land and pass with ownership.
Related resources
- Free exam prep
Practice related licensing questions with instant feedback.
- Real estate glossary hub
Browse all published national glossary entries.
- Florida exam topic hub
Florida-specific explainers and question sets for this topic area.
Sources
- Black's Law Dictionary: abutting(Cornell Legal Information Institute)