ICC Permit Technician Practice Exam

What is the term for the act of occupying a space that belongs to someone else?

1. Variance

2. Permissive use

3. Encroachment

4. Adverse possession

The correct answer is: Encroachment

The term "encroachment" refers to the act of unlawfully occupying or using a portion of a space that belongs to someone else. It often involves physical intrusion onto another person's property, such as a building, fence, or landscaping that extends into an adjacent lot. This creates potential legal disputes as it infringes upon the rights of the property owner. In the context of property law, it is essential to recognize the implications of encroachment, as it can lead to conflicts between neighbors and require legal intervention to resolve ownership disputes or to compel the removal of the encroachment. Other terms, such as variance, permissive use, and adverse possession, describe different concepts in property law. A variance relates to an approved deviation from zoning regulations, permissive use suggests permission granted to use someone else's property, and adverse possession involves a legal claim to ownership of land after continuous possession under certain conditions. However, they do not specifically describe the unlawful occupation of someone else's space as encroachment does.