840.01 Definition of interest in real property. As used in chs. 840 to 846:

(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), “interest in real property" includes estates in, powers of appointment under ch. 702 over, present and future rights to, title to, and interests in real property, including, without limitation by enumeration, security interests and liens on land, easements, profits, rights of appointees under powers of appointment, rights under covenants running with the land, powers of termination, and homestead rights. The interest may be an interest that was formerly designated legal or equitable. The interest may be surface, subsurface, suprasurface, riparian, or littoral.

(2) “Interest in real property" does not include interests held only as a member of the public nor does it include licenses.

History: 1973 c. 189; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 767 (1975), 782; Stats. 1975 s. 840.01; 1983 a. 186; 1999 a. 85; 2013 a. 92.

In an action for unreasonable interference with an easement, it was reasonable for the court to order the defendant landowner to place a fence post at least 2 feet away from a right-of-way as interference to easements can be caused even if objects do not physically touch the right-of-way. Hunter v. McDonald, 78 Wis. 2d 338, 254 N.W.2d 282 (1978).

A municipality's regulatory power to condemn, assess, tax, and zone property within its boundaries is not an “interest in real property" under this section. Village of Hobart v. Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, 2007 WI App 180, 303 Wis. 2d 761, 736 N.W.2d 896, 06-2639.