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Art. 667
1Land ownership extends upwards into the air and downwards into the ground to the extent determined by the owner’s legitimate interest in exercising his or her ownership rights. 2Within the limits prescribed by law, it includes all buildings and plants as well as springs.
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Art. 668
II. Boundaries
1. Type of boundary
1Land boundaries are established by the land register plans and by boundary markings on the land itself. 2In the event of discrepancy between the existing land register plans and the boundary markings, the land register plans are presumed correct. 3The foregoing presumption does not apply to areas designated by the canton as being in permanent danger of ground displacement.1
1 Inserted by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 669
2. Duty to establish boundaries
Every landowner is obliged, at the request of his or her neighbour, to co-operate in establishing the boundary where it is unclear, whether by amendment of the land register plans or by affixing boundary markers.
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Art. 670
3. Co-ownership of boundary markers
Where boundaries are marked by features such as walls, hedges and fences, such features are presumed to be jointly owned by the two neighbouring landowners.
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Art. 671
III. Buildings on the parcel of land
1. Land and building materials
a. Ownership
1Where a person uses materials belonging to another in building work on his or her own land or materials of his or her own on land belonging to another, such materials become an integral part of the parcel of land. 2However, where such materials are used against the will of their owner, the latter is entitled to demand that the materials be removed and returned to him or her at the landowner’s expense to the extent this is possible without causing disproportionate damage. 3On the same condition, where the materials were used against the will of the landowner, the latter may demand that they be removed from his or her land at the expense of the builder.
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Art. 672
1Where the materials are not removed from the land, the landowner must provide appropriate compensation for the cost of the materials. 2Where the landowner on whose land the building work was carried out acted in bad faith, the court may award full damages. 3Where the owner of the materials used in the building work acted in bad faith, the damages awarded may not exceed the minimum value of the building work to the landowner.
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Art. 673
c. Assignment of land ownership
Where the value of the building plainly exceeds the value of the land, the party acting in good faith may request that ownership of both building and land be assigned to the owner of the materials in exchange for appropriate compensation.
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Art. 674
2. Encroaching buildings
1Buildings and other structures encroaching from one parcel of land onto another remain part of the parcel from which they originate, providing their owner has a right in rem to their existence. 2The right to encroach on neighbouring land may be recorded as an easement in the land register. 3If an injured party fails to object in timely manner to an unauthorised encroachment, despite being aware of it, where justified in the circumstances the builder of the encroaching structure, provided he or she acted in good faith, may be granted ownership of the encroaching part thereof or of the land below it in exchange for appropriate compensation.
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Art. 675
1Buildings and other structures that are dug into or built onto land belonging to another person or otherwise permanently connected with that parcel of land on or below its surface may have a separate owner provided their existence is recorded as an easement in the land register. 2The creation of rights to buildings in respect of individual storeys of a building is not permitted.
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Art. 676
4. Pipes, cables, conduits
1Pipes, cables and conduits for water, gas, electricity and the like located outside the parcel of land which they serve are, except where otherwise regulated, the property of the utility plant from which they come or to which they lead.1 2Where the provisions of the law of neighbours do not apply, the encumbrance of parcels of land by rights in rem relating to such pipes, cables and conduits belonging to another person is established by way of easement. 3If the pipe, cable or conduit is visible, the easement is created when the pipe, cable or conduit is laid. In other cases, it is created by entry in the land register.2
1 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283). 2 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283).
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Art. 677
1Sheds, huts, shacks, cabins and the like retain their separate owner if they are constructed on land belonging to another person without the intention of becoming a permanent fixture. 2Their existence is not recorded in the land register.
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Art. 678
IV. Plants grown on the parcel of land
1Where a person uses another person’s plants on his or her own land or his or her own plants on another person’s land, the same rights and obligations arise as for the use of building materials or for movable structures. 2An easement corresponding to a building right may be created in respect of individual plants and plantations for a minimum of ten and a maximum of 100 years.1 3The servient owner may request the termination of the easement before the end of the agreed duration in the event of the termination of a lease agreement concluded between him or her and the easement beneficiary concerning the use of the land. The court shall determine the financial consequences taking due account of all the circumstances.2
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Art. 679
V. Landowner’s liability
1. Acts in excess of ownership rights1
1 Where a person incurs or is at risk of damage because a landowner acts in excess of his or her ownership rights, he or she may sue for abatement of the damage or for protection against any imminent damage and for damages. 2Where a building or installation deprives a neighbouring parcel of land of certain properties, the aforementioned rights apply only if the regulations that applied at the time the building or installation was constructed were not complied with.2
1 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283). 2 Inserted by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283).
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Art. 679a
2. Lawful management of the land
Where a landowner temporarily causes excessive and unavoidable disadvantages to a neighbour while managing his or her parcel of land lawfully, in particular by building and thus causes damage, the neighbour may only claim damages from the landowner.
1 Inserted by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283).
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Art. 680
B. Limitations
I. In general
1Statutory restrictions on ownership exist irrespective of whether they are recorded in the land register. 2Any lifting or modification thereof by agreement is invalid unless executed in the form of a public deed and recorded in the land register. 3Public law restrictions on ownership may not be revoked or modified.
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Art. 681
II. Restrictions on alienation; statutory right of pre-emption
1. General principles
1Statutory rights of pre-emption may also be exercised in the case of compulsory sale at auction, but only at the auction itself and on the conditions that apply to a sale to the highest bidder; in other respects statutory rights of pre-emption may be exercised subject to the conditions that apply to contractual rights of pre-emption. 2The right of pre-emption becomes void if the land is sold to a person with a right of pre-emption of equal or higher rank. 3Statutory rights of pre-emption may neither be inherited nor assigned. They take precedence over contractual rights of pre-emption.
1 Amended by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 681a
1Where a purchase agreement is concluded, the vendor must notify persons with a right of pre-emption of the terms thereof. 2If a person wishes to exercise his or her right of pre-emption, he or she must assert it within three months of learning of the conclusion and terms of the purchase agreement. Such a right may no longer be exercised once two years have elapsed since the entry of the new owner in the land register. 3During that time a person may exercise a right of pre-emption against any owner of the land.
1 Inserted by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 681b
3. Modification, waiver
1An agreement excluding or modifying a statutory right of pre-emption is valid only if executed in the form of a public deed. It may be entered under priority notice in the land register provided the right of pre-emption is held by the current owner of another parcel of land. 2The beneficiary may waive his or her statutory right of pre-emption in writing once the event that triggers it has occurred.
1 Inserted by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 682
4. In respect of co-ownership and building rights2
1Co-owners have a right of pre-emption against any person acquiring a share who is not a co-owner. If several co-owners exercise their right of pre-emption, the share is allocated to them in proportion to their existing shares.3 2The owner of a parcel of land encumbered with a distinct and permanent building right shall also have a right of pre-emption in respect of that right over anyone wishing to acquire it, and the holder of the right has a right of pre-emption in respect of the parcel of land it encumbers, providing the land is used in the exercise of his or her right. 3...4
1 Amended by No I of the FA of 19 Dec. 1963, in force since 1 Jan. 1965 (AS 1964 993; BBl 1962 II 1461). 2 Amended by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953). 3 Amended by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953). 4 Repealed by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), with effect from 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 682a
5. Right of pre-emption of farms and farmland
Rights of pre-emption of agricultural enterprises and agricultural land are also governed by the Federal Act of 4 October 19912 on Rural land Rights.
1 Inserted by Art. 92 No 1 of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on Rural Land Rights, in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1410; BBl 1988 III 953). 2 SR 211.412.11
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Art. 683
1 Repealed by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), with effect from 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 684
III. Law of neighbours
1. Excess detriment1
1In exercising their ownership rights, including in particular the right to run a business on his or her land, landowners are obliged to refrain from any excess detrimental to neighbouring properties. 2In particular all harmful effects that are not justified by the location and character of the land or by local custom such as air pollution emissions of noxious vapours, noise, vibrations, radiation or the deprivation of sunlight or daylight are prohibited.2
1 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283). 2 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283).
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Art. 685
2. Excavation and construction
a. Rule
1When carrying out excavation or construction work, the owner is not permitted to damage the adjoining properties by causing their terrain to shift, exposing it to the risk of shifting or by weakening existing structures. 2Buildings which contravene the provisions of the law of neighbours are subject to the provisions governing encroaching buildings.
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Art. 686
b. Cantonal regulations
1The cantons may set minimum separation distances to be observed in excavation and construction works. 2They have the right to issue further building regulations.
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Art. 687
1Overhanging branches and roots encroaching beyond the boundary may be severed and kept by the neighbour if they are damaging his or her property and have not been removed within a reasonable time following his or her complaint in relation thereto. 2If a landowner tolerates branches overhanging cultivated or developed land, he or she is entitled to the fruit that grows on them. 3These provisions do not apply to adjoining parcels of woodland.
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Art. 688
b. Cantonal regulations
The cantons are authorised to set minimum separation distances for plantations depending on the type of land and plants involved or to oblige the landowner to permit the overhanging branches or encroaching roots of fruit trees and to regulate or annul his or her right to take the fruit from such branches.
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Art. 689
1Every landowner is obliged to receive the waters flowing naturally from a higher-lying parcel of land, such as rain water, melting snow and water from unchannelled springs. 2No person may alter the natural course of flow to his or her neighbour’s damage. 3Water flowing to a lower-lying parcel of land and required by that property may be withheld only to the extent that such water is indispensable to the higher-lying parcel of land.
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Art. 690
1Where a higher-lying parcel of land is drained, the owner of lower-lying parcel of land is obliged to receive such water as previously flowed naturally onto his or her land without being entitled to compensation. 2If he or she suffers damage as a result of drainage channels, he or she may require the owner of the higher-lying parcel of land to continue such channels through the lower-lying parcel of land at the latter’s expense.
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Art. 691
6. Pipes, cables, conduits
a. Duty to permit
1Every landowner is obliged to permit water conduits, drainage pipes, gas pipes and the like and subterranean or overhead cables to traverse his or her land in exchange for full compensation, to the extent that such works would be impossible or prohibitively expensive if they did not traverse his or her land.1 2The right for pipes, cables and conduits to traverse an adjoining parcel of land may not be claimed on the basis of the law of neighbours in cases subject to compulsory purchase under cantonal or federal law. 3At the request of the dominant or the servient owner, such rights shall be recorded in the land register as an easement at the expense of the dominant owner. The right for pipes, cables and conduits to traverse an adjoining parcel of land may be cited in opposition to a person acquiring a parcel of land in good faith, even if it is not registered.2
1 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283). 2 Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Register Mortgage Certificates and other amendments to Property Law), in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 4637; BBl 2007 5283).
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Art. 692
b. Safeguarding the interests of the servient landowner
1The servient owner is entitled to just and equitable consideration of his or her own interests. 2Where justified by extraordinary circumstances, he or she may request that the piece of the land above which overhead pipes, cables and conduits are to be routed together with a reasonable portion of the surrounding land be purchased from him or her at its full value.
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Art. 693
c. Change of circumstances
1If circumstances change, the servient owner may request that the route of the pipe, cable or conduit be altered in accordance with his or her interests. 2The costs of such re-routing are normally borne by the owner of the dominant property. 3However, where justified by special circumstances, an appropriate portion of the costs may be charged to the servient owner.
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Art. 694
7. Rights of way
a. Necessary right of way
1Where a landowner does not have adequate access from his or her land to a public thoroughfare, he or she has the right to require his or her neighbours to grant him or her the necessary right of way in exchange for full compensation. 2This right is in the first place exercised against the neighbour who, in the light of existing ownership and access circumstances, may most reasonably be expected to grant such right of way, and secondly in respect of the neighbour for whom it is least damaging. 3When determining the route of a right of way, the interests of both parties must be taken into consideration.
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Art. 695
The cantons reserve the right to enact more detailed provisions which govern the landowner’s right to enter neighbouring land for the purposes of managing his or her own land or carrying out repairs or building works and which regulate rights of way for the purpose of tillage, watering cattle, transit over fallow ground or in the dead season, transit for timber gathering, and the like.
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Art. 696
c. Notation in the land register
1Rights of way established directly by law exist without need for registration. 2However, if permanent they are noted in the land register.
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Art. 697
1The costs of enclosing a parcel of land are borne by its owner, subject to the provisions governing co-ownership of boundary markers. 2Cantonal law may enact provisions governing the duty to enclose and the manner of enclosure.
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Art. 698
The costs of any structures required for the exercise of rights under the law of neighbours are borne by the landowners in proportion to their interests.
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Art. 699
IV. Right of access and to ward off danger
1. Access
1Any person has the right to enter woodlands and meadows and to gather wild berries, fungi and the like to the extent permitted by local custom except where the competent authority enacts specific limited prohibitions in the interests of conservation. 2Cantonal law may enact more detailed regulations on access to land owned by others for the purposes of hunting and fishing.
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Art. 700
2. Retrieval of driftage and the like
1If objects are carried onto another parcel of land by water, wind, avalanche or other force of nature or by chance event, or if animals such as livestock, swarms of bees, poultry and fish stray onto his or her property, the landowner must grant the rightful owner access to his or her land to search for and retrieve them. 2The landowner is entitled to claim damages for any damage caused and to that end has a special lien as to such objects and animals.
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Art. 701
3. Trespass to ward off danger or damage
1If a person is able to ward off imminent damage or present danger from himself or herself or others only by trespassing on land belonging to another, the latter is obliged to tolerate such trespass to the extent that such danger or damage would be considerably greater than the detriment caused by the trespass. 2Appropriate compensation is owed for any resultant damage.
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Art. 702
V. Public law restrictions on ownership
1. In general
The Confederation, cantons and communes reserve the right to impose restrictions on ownership that are in the public interest, and in particular that relate to building, fire and health regulations, forestry and road services, towpaths, erection of boundary markings and triangulation pillars, land improvements, fragmentation of landholdings, consolidation of agricultural land and building land, conservation of antiquities and natural monuments, preservation of areas of natural beauty and scenic vantage points and protection of mineral springs.
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Art. 703
1Where it is possible to carry out land improvements, such as watercourse modifications, drainage, irrigation, reforestation, path-building, land consolidation procedures and the like, only by collective endeavour and such endeavour has been approved by the majority of the landowners owning more than half of the land involved, the other landowners are obliged to participate. Landowners who choose not to participate in the decision-making process are deemed to consent. Participation is recorded in the land register. 2The cantons regulate the procedure. In particular, they must issue detailed rules on consolidation of landholdings. 3Cantonal legislation may further facilitate the realisation of such land improvements and may declare that the corresponding provisions also apply to building land and to areas designated as being in permanent danger of ground displacement.2
1 Amended by Art. 121 of the Agriculture Act of 3 oct. 1951, in force since 1 Jan. 1954 (AS 1953 1073; BBl 1951 I 130). 2 Amended by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1991 on the Partial Revision of the Civil Code (Immovable Property Law) and of the Code of Obligations (Purchase of Land), in force since 1 Jan. 1994 (AS 1993 1404; BBl 1988 III 953).
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Art. 704
C. Rights to springs and wells
I. Spring ownership and spring rights
1Springs are an integral part of the land and their ownership may be acquired only through ownership of the land from which they rise. 2Rights to spring water on land owned by others are established as easements by entry in the land register. 3Groundwater is deemed equivalent to springs.
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Art. 705
II. Diversion of springs
1Cantonal law may regulate, restrict or prohibit the diversion of spring waters to safeguard the public interest. 2In the event of conflict between cantons, the final decision rests with the Federal Council.
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Art. 706
III. Cutting off springs
1. Damages
1Where springs and wells that enjoy considerable use or whose waters are collected for further use are cut off, diminished or contaminated by building works, installations or other measures to the detriment of their owners or rightful users, such persons are entitled to claim damages. 2Where the damage was done neither intentionally nor through negligence, or the injured parties are themselves at fault, the court determines the amount and manner of compensation at its discretion.
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Art. 707
1If springs and wells that are indispensable for the exploitation or habitation of a parcel of land or for the supply of drinking water are cut off or contaminated, those affected have the right to demand that the status quo ante be restored where at all possible. 2In other cases restoration of the status quo ante may be demanded only where this is justified by special circumstances.
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Art. 708
IV. Community of spring owners
1Where springs located near to each other and belonging to different owners form a group rising from a common catchment basin, each of the owners may request that the springs be collectively captured and channelled to the rightful users in proportion to the existing volume of flow. 2The costs of the common installations are borne by the rightful users in proportion to their respective interests. 3If one user opposes the request, each user has the right to capture and divert his or her own spring in the normal manner, even if the volume of flow of the other springs is thereby diminished, and is liable to pay compensation only to the extent that his or her own spring is augmented by the new works.
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Art. 709
The cantons have the right to determine the extent to which privately owned springs, wells and streams may also be used by neighbours and other persons for drawing water, watering livestock and the like.
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Art. 710
VI. Right to use an essential water source
1If a parcel of land lacks the water required for domestic and farming requirements and if such water cannot be obtained from anywhere else except at an entirely disproportionate cost and effort, the owner may request that a neighbour able to spare such water without suffering hardship allow him or her a share of the latter’s spring or well to him or her in exchange for full compensation. 2When determining which water source is thus affected, the interests of the person required to supply the water are the primary consideration. 3Where circumstances change, a modification of the arrangement in place may be requested.
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Art. 711
VII. Duty to cede
1. Water sources
1Where landowners make no use of springs, wells or streams, or make very little use thereof in comparison with their potential utility, they may be required to cede them in exchange for full compensation for supplying drinking water, fire hydrants or other uses in the public interest. 2Such compensation may take the form of water supplied from the new installation.
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Art. 712
Owners of drinking water utilities have the right to expropriate the land surrounding their springs to the extent necessary to protect them from contamination.
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