The scenario of selling development rights from one property to another illustrates which concept?

• A. Air Rights
• B. Conservation Easement
• C. Easement In Gross
• D. Transferable Development Rights

Answer: (D)

Transferable Development Rights let the right to develop a property be moved to another parcel. In this setup, the owner of the sending property can sell some or all of its development rights to a receiving property, which then gains permission to exceed its usual density. The sending parcel’s development potential is reduced, while the receiving parcel can build more than normally allowed. This mechanism often preserves open space or farmland by diverting growth to areas with infrastructure or planning support, rather than letting it occur on the preserved land. It’s distinct from air rights, which concern the right to build above land but aren’t tied to transferring density between parcels; a conservation easement is a restriction to protect resources and doesn’t transfer development rights, and an easement in gross benefits a person or entity rather than a specific parcel and doesn’t involve density transfer between properties.