What is an easement in gross?

An easement in gross is fundamentally a personal right to use someone else's land for a specific purpose without needing to own any adjoining property. This means that the easement is associated with an individual or an entity rather than being tied to a particular piece of land. For instance, utility companies often have easements in gross that allow them to access and maintain their infrastructure, like power lines or water pipes, irrespective of the ownership of the land where those utilities are located.

The nature of an easement in gross distinguishes it from other types of easements that benefit specific tracts of land, which would not apply to this scenario. An individual with an easement in gross does not have to own any adjacent property, and the easement typically does not transfer with the land if the owner sells it, unlike easements appurtenant that benefit specific properties. This characteristic makes the answer a correct reflection of what an easement in gross entails.