Legal Definitions - immovable fixture

An immovable fixture is a type of personal property that is attached to land or a building and is considered an irremovable part of the real property. This means that it cannot be easily removed without causing damage to the property. Examples of immovable fixtures include fireplaces built into a home, built-in bookshelves, and ceiling fans.

Historically, personal property becomes a fixture when it is physically fastened to or connected with the land or building and the fastening or connection was done to enhance the utility of the land or building. For example, if bricks are purposely stacked to form a wall, a fixture results. But if the bricks are merely stacked for convenience until used for some purpose, they do not form a fixture.

It is important to note that there are other types of fixtures, such as tenant's fixtures and trade fixtures. Tenant's fixtures are removable personal property that a tenant affixes to the leased property but can detach and take away. Trade fixtures are removable personal property that a tenant attaches to leased land for business purposes, such as a display counter.

Overall, immovable fixtures are an important aspect of real property law and can have significant implications for property owners and tenants.