Which statement describes a license in property law?

• A. A permission to use land that does not grant an estate and can be revoked.
• B. An ownership interest in land.
• C. A tenant's right to occupy land for a defined term.
• D. A right to use land for a specific purpose that cannot be revoked.

Answer: (A)

A license in property law is a personal, revocable permission to use someone else’s land without creating an estate or any right of exclusive possession. It allows activity on the land but does not grant the holder an interest in the property, and the grantor can revoke the permission (subject to any contractual terms or estoppel principles). If the arrangement were to give exclusive possession for a defined period, it would usually be a lease, not a license.

The option that states this precise idea—permission to use land that does not grant an estate and can be revoked—best describes a license. The other descriptions refer to ownership, a tenancy, or an irrevocable right, none of which fit the typical concept of a license.