Legal Definitions - special franchise

A special franchise is a right granted by the government to a public utility to use property for a public use but for private profit. This is different from a general franchise, which is a corporation's charter.

For example, a city may grant a special franchise to a power company to use public land to install power lines and provide electricity to homes and businesses. The power company can make a profit from providing this service, but the government has given them the right to use public property for this purpose.

Another example of a special franchise is a cable company being granted the right to use public land to install cables and provide cable television services to customers.

These examples illustrate how a special franchise is a specific type of government-granted right that allows a private company to use public property for a specific purpose while making a profit.