A dedication is the conveyance of private land, either in fee simple or as an easement, for public use. The landowner can convey the property according to dedication procedures defined by statute or as a common law dedication through deed or implied conduct. In either scenario, the government must accept the dedication on behalf of the public for it to be effective. Though dedications are often gifts, a municipality may also require a dedication as a condition of approving a development permit. The Supreme Court held in Dolan v. City of Tigard that such mandated dedications must be related and “roughly proportional” to the impact of the proposed development, so as not to violate the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
[Last updated in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]