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.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
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
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines deed restriction in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
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