An easement that does not benefit a specific parcel of land is known as what?

An easement that does not benefit a specific parcel of land is referred to as an easement in gross. This type of easement is granted to an individual or entity rather than being tied to a particular piece of property. For example, an easement in gross might be awarded to a utility company, allowing them to install power lines on a property regardless of its ownership or state. Since it focuses on the rights of the holder rather than a dominant estate—meaning there’s no parcel that is benefiting from the easement—it distinguishes itself from appurtenant easements, which do benefit particular lands.

In contrast, other types of easements, such as prescriptive easements and appurtenant easements, have specific conditions regarding the parcels of land they affect. A prescriptive easement is often acquired through a certain period of usage, while an appurtenant easement directly benefits a particular piece of property, connecting two parcels of land. A mandatory easement isn't a standard term used in real estate terminology, making it less relevant in this context. Therefore, the correct answer identifies an easement type that stands apart due to its lack of connection to a specific parcel.