right-of-way
(redirected from rights of way)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
right-of-way
(1) The right to use another's land for ingress or egress,which is a type of easement. (2) Either deeded rights or easement rights in the government for public roads, streets, and highways. Government rights-of-way may extend for many feet outside the paved boundary or even beyond the shoulder of the road. Typical rights-of-way are measured from 30 to 50 feet from the centerline of the road and may be larger if the government secured enough land for future road widening. (Before building, excavating, or even planting trees along the side of a road, one should check with the local road department for right-of-way measurements.)
The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia by Denise L. Evans, JD & O. William Evans, JD. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.