Definition of "Adjoining"

Gena Taylor real estate agent

Written by

Gena Taylorelite badge icon

Coldwell Banker FI Grey & Son Residential Inc.

Regarding the definition of the term adjoining, we see a term used most often to describe a particular position that objects, items, or properties have regarding each other. In the case of the term adjoining, that position is one of direct contact, attached, or contiguous. Strictly regarding the ordinary meaning of the word, adjoining describes closer proximity than adjacent as it requires a “joining” of objects, items, or properties. 

Adjoining in real estate

The term adjoining is also important in real estate lingo as it describes two buildings with a connecting boundary, a wall that they both share, a fence that connects the properties, and such. The term, however, is often used together with adjacent accompanied by a wide variety of environmental planning instruments as well as in development control plans. Something important to note is that when used together, they possibly refer to different concepts that determine the proximity of properties, buildings, and lots.

The term real estate adjoining can be used to describe abutting properties or adjoining properties as, in both instances, the two properties do not have any land or structure in between them. These properties can share a wall of the house, a fence in the backyard, or a line of trees that limits one property from the other. In any other way, the two properties are joined at one point or one line with nothing else separating them. Examples would be duplexes and townhouses. The concept is debated when issues of cadastral mapping come into question for buyers that are interested in lots that are devoid of any structures in order to have exact measurements of where one lot ends and the other begins.


Adjoining owners are the legal owners of adjoining properties that share a common structure at their border. Other terms that can be used instead of adjoining in real estate are abutting, neighboring, connected, or attached. Adjacent is close but not quite as directly connected as adjoining is and should not be used as a synonym.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Same as term capitalization rate: Also called cap rate or income yield. A useful way to compute the rate of return on a real estate investment. It equals the net operating income (NOI) for ...

Divider made of plasterboard or plaster used to partition rooms. A room is created by the walls surrounding it. ...

Generally, a legal notice implies a method of official notification to an individual, organization, company, or the public that a particular event is about to occur. We can call a ...

Having two families live in a residence designed for only one family. This violates single-family residence zoning. ...

History of an individual's credit financial transactions including a detailed payment analysis. The creditor history is critical for performing a credit analysis to develop a credit rating. ...

Single mortgage or other encumbrance that covers more than one piece of real estate. ...

One who receives real property under a will. ...

A charge based on the asset value of a real estate security portfolio to manage it. For an open-end mutual fond, the management charge is included in the selling cost of the security. ...

The loss of an access right to a parcel of property through another property owner's property. This could materially affect the value of the property denied access. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions