Which statement best distinguishes an easement from a license?

• A. A license creates a property interest that runs with the land; an easement is mere permission that can be revoked.
• B. An easement can be inherited or transferred with the property; a license cannot be inherited or transferred.
• C. A license is revocable and cannot be inherited or transferred; an easement is a property right that runs with the land.
• D. A license requires court involvement to maintain; an easement does not.

Answer: (C)

The key distinction is the nature of the interest created. A license is only permission to use someone else’s land and does not create a property interest; it can be revoked and generally cannot be transferred or inherited. An easement, in contrast, is a non-possessory property right that benefits land and, once granted, runs with the land, effectively binding successors and allowing transfer with the property. That’s why the correct statement says a license is revocable and cannot be inherited or transferred, while an easement is a property right that runs with the land. The other options either describe the reverse relationship or add requirements (like court involvement) that aren’t defining features of the distinction.