What’s the difference between private and public property in regards to apartment complexes and the land around them?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What’s the difference between private and public property in regards to apartment complexes and the land around them?

I live in a very dog friendly neighborhood and I
have 2 dogs I walk regularly up and down our
street. There’s an apartment complex across
the street where a woman is trying to tell me I
cannot walk my dogs. I don’t go into the gated
areas at all but there is a large grassy area
next to the complex that I like to take them.
This grassy area has signs saying clean up
after your pet, there is no sidewalk between it
and the street and the complex’s sign is behind
it. I don’t think she legally can tell me not to
walk my dogs there because I see it as public
property. Am I wrong?

Asked on October 14, 2017 under Real Estate Law, Arizona

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

This would be private property typically: the grassy area would most likely be part of the same plot of land as the apartment complex and would be owned by the building's owners, making it private land. Only if it were owned by the city/town would it be public land. It's ownership, not accessible to the public or the road, which makes it public. If you want to confirm 100% who owns it, you should be able to look up that information in the city/town clerk's office.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption