Deed restriction
A limit on the use of the property written into the deed. Examples: no commercial use, no fences over 6 feet, no short-term rentals. Enforcement varies.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A deed restriction limits what an owner can do, and it follows the home to the buyer. Buyers ask about them, and one that blocks what a buyer planned is a reason a deal ends.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your deed says no structures within 25 feet of the rear line and no short-term rentals. A buyer planning to list the home nightly reads it and walks.
| The restriction | What it does to the sale |
|---|---|
| No short-term rentals | Removes the investor buyers who wanted that |
| A setback from the rear line | Matters to a buyer planning a pool or an addition |
| A minimum home size | Usually nothing; the home already meets it |
Deed restrictions are rules the buyer inherits. Saying them early avoids a late surprise.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That restrictions expire when the home changes hands. They run with the land, and the next owner is bound too.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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