Legal Definitions - superficies

Definition: Superficies refers to the surface of the ground and any improvements that stand on it, such as buildings, trees, plants, or crops. In Roman and civil law, it also refers to the right of a superficiarius, which is a person who has a hereditary and alienable right to a building on public or private land, subject to the payment of an annual rent.

• A house built on a piece of land is an example of a superficies.
• A garden with plants and trees is also a superficies.
• In Roman law, a person who has the right to build and own a building on public land is a superficiarius.

These examples illustrate how superficies refers to the surface of the ground and any improvements on it. It also shows how the term is used in Roman law to refer to a person's right to own a building on public or private land.