Abutter for Dummies

Abutter is a word that we use to describe someone who lives next to or adjacent to a particular property or piece of land. Imagine you have a slice of your favorite pie. Now, picture the person who lives right next door to you. That person is an abutter to your pie! They have a special relationship with your pie because they live so close to it. In the same way, an abutter is someone who has a close connection to a specific piece of land or property.

Now, let's dive a little deeper into the word "abutter." There are two main definitions that we can explore. The first definition refers to someone who owns property that is next to or touching another person's property. So, if you own a house and your neighbor owns a vacant plot of land touching your property, they would be considered an abutter to your house. They have a direct connection to your property because they live right next to it.

The second definition of "abutter" relates to legal matters like zoning and land use. In these cases, an abutter refers to someone who would be directly affected by a proposed change or development in their neighborhood. For example, if the city is planning to build a noisy factory next to your house, you might have concerns about how it could impact your quality of life. In this case, you would be considered an abutter because you have a direct stake in the situation.

So, to recap, an abutter is someone who either lives next to a specific property or who would be directly affected by a proposed change or development in their neighborhood. It's like being the person who lives right next door to a delicious pie, or the neighbor who might have concerns about a noisy factory being built nearby. I hope this explanation helps you understand what "abutter" means! Feel free to ask any further questions if something is still unclear.