Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 26, 2005 Who owns air above our homes? Reader requests local no-fly zone Property rights are lower than ever Noisy neighbours and noisy neighbourhoods continue to be a matter of considerable concern to Toronto-area homeowners. One Star reader recently emailed me with an unusual type of noise grievance. Instead of complaining about frisky neighbours, he was agitated about the noise from aircraft flying over his house. “Can I enforce a no-flight zone over my house?” he asked. No doubt he had in mind a well-known principle of land ownership, which originated in the Middle Ages: Whoever owns the land also owns whatever is above and below it. Apparently the reader lives under the flight path to a runway at Pearson airport, and is super-sensitive to the noise of aircraft thundering over his roof all day, every day. If he had lived in Europe in the 13th century, he would have had no trouble enforcing a no-flight zone over his house (not just because there were no airplanes at the time). The law was that a landowner owned everything “to the heavens” and “to the depths.” Times have changed, as courts and legislatures have whittled away at the rights that once accompanied land ownership. A huge swath of land surrounding the Pearson runways is governed by airport zoning regulations, which are actually registered on the property titles. They provide written notice to purchasers that their land is under or near a flight path, and that the government has assigned air rights over the properties to the airlines and airport operators. And even in the absence of zoning rules, the courts have reduced the rights of property owners from the heavens to something a little closer to the ground. Back in the 1980s, Alberta Power Ltd. constructed a power line along a municipal roadway adjacent to Kenneth Didow’s farm. The cross-arms of the transmission lines and the wires attached to them extended about six feet over the Didow property, interfering with spraying, seeding and other farm activities. The Alberta Court of Appeal was asked to declare the cross-arms a trespass on the Didow land. In a well-reasoned and researched judgment, the court reviewed the law of air rights in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, going back to 1610. Historically, anything overhanging a property whether it was trees, signs, telephone wires or even an adjacent building was considered by the courts to be either a trespass or a nuisance. Gradually, however, the courts began to acknowledge the realities of air travel. In Britain, back in 1977, Lord Bernstein of Leigh sued a company that flew over his lands to take aerial photographs. The court denied his claim and proposed a balance between the rights of the landowner and the public air space. Beyond the height necessary for the landowner’s use, the court said the air space becomes public domain. This rule was adopted in the Didow case, and the cross-arms were ruled to be a trespass because they interfered with the use and enjoyment of his land. Air-space rights are not restricted to the aviation industry. Several years ago, a client of mine was approached by a Toronto developer who wanted to build a tall condominium next door to her house. A huge crane was necessary to construct the building, and it would have to rotate above her house. As well, the developer wanted to insert steel tieback rods under the house, in order to support the foundations during the excavation. Without my client’s co-operation, construction costs would have been significantly higher, and we negotiated what I thought was a generous agreement. Subsurface mineral rights are another story. Historically, when the Crown transferred land to original Canadian settlers, it reserved for itself all mines and minerals below the surface. If there’s gold under your house, you don’t own it. There are separate rules for gas and oil, which can migrate back and forth below ground. Simply stated, the rule is that you don’t own the gas or oil under your property until you bring it to the surface. As for the Star reader who wants to stop planes flying over his house, he’s out of luck. Bob Aaron is a Toronto real estate lawyer. He can be reached by e-mail at bob@aaron.ca, phone 416-364-9366 or fax 416-364-3818. Visit http://www.aaron.ca =========================================================================== Didow v. Alberta Power Ltd. (Alta. C.A.) Between Steve William Didow, Kenneth W. Didow, Stewart Charles Knox and Mary Ann Knox, Applicants (Appellants), and Alberta Power Limited, Respondent Alberta Court of Appeal Haddad, Foisy JJ.A. and Andrekson J. (ad hoc) July 11, 1988   Alberta Judgments: [1988] A.J. No. 620  

   REASONS FOR JUDGMENT    HADDAD J.A. (for the Court, allowing the appeal): The single issue in this appeal is to determine, on the particular facts which follow, whether the respondent has trespassed the airspace above the appellant’s land.    The material facts are not in dispute. The respondent, an electrical utility company, constructed a power line on the municipal road allowance along the east side of the appellants’ land. The distance between the centre of the base of four power poles, each approximately 50 feet in height, to the boundary of the appellants’ land is two feet. The cross-arms conductors and attaching wires at the top of each pole (collectively called the “cross-arms” protrude six feet into the airspace above the appellant’s land.    The appellants in these proceedings, conmenced by originating notice of motion, seek a declaration that the cross-arms amount to a trespass. The following paragraph from the affidavit of the appellant, Kenneth W. Didow, sets forth the appellants’ concerns:

   The learned chamber judge considered a series of authorities and concluded that the protrusion did not interfere with the appellants’ possession of the airspace or its right to possession. He applied the following test:

   With respect, that statement does not take into account the problems, actual or potential, referred to in Kenneth W. Didow’s affidavit. Moreover, I have read the relevant authorities and applying the principles and tests I extract therefrom I arrive at a conclusion contrary to that reached by the learned chambers judge. Accordingly, I would allow the appeal.    The character of a trespass was not put in controversy. In essence, it is an unjustifiable interference with possession. The appellants are the registered owners of the land below the airspace and their status to bring this action is not in dispute.    A resolution of the issue before the court turns on the extent of the rights acquired by the appellants to the column of air above and within the boundaries of the land.    The jurisprudence in this area of the law has developed from early English cases, before the advent of air traffic, where decisions were influenced by the maxim cujus est solum, ejus est usque ad coelum et ad ed inferos (referred to hereafter as the “latin maxim”) which in simple language means that the owner of a piece of land owns everything above and below it to an indefinite extent.    The authorities cited can, generally speaking, be divided into two groups:

   With respect to cases in the first group, the weight of authority favours the view that a direct invasion by a permanent artificial projection constitutes a trespass.    The appellants, as have all claimants to airspace, rely in the main on the latin maxim. This maxim has been the subject of constant attack in airspace litigation over the years and if not discredited has been qualified in its application. Some of the older cases cited by the respondent were aimed at establishing that an overhanging encroachment will have nuisance value only and is therefore not actionable in trespass. This theory is no longer viable, according to recent authority, at least insofar as it applies to structures of a permanent nature.    The first of the early decisions cited is Baten’s case (1610) 77 E.R. 810 where a portion of the defendant’s new home was found to overhang part of the plaintiff’s home. Notwithstanding reference to the foregoing maxim the court characterized the overhang as a nuisance. Today, by the application of modern concepts, the overhang, in my view, would be treated as a trespass.    In Pickering v. Rudd (1815) 171 E.R. 70 and Fay v. Prentice (1845) 135 E.R. 769 it was said that the appropriate remedy in each case was an action in nuisance. Each dealt with projections over an adjoining property.    In Pickering, the alleged overhang consisted of a board and Lord Ellenborough did not “think it a trespass to interfere with the air superincumbent on the close”. Caution led him to reject trespass by reasoning that to hold otherwise “an aeronaut is liable to an action in trespass quare clausum fregit, at the suit of every occupier of a field over which his balloon passes in the course of his voyage”. Subsequent judicial pronouncements and existing laws regulating aircraft have now removed Lord Ellenborough’s concern. His decision has been supplanted by more recent authority. (see Kelsen v. Imperial Tobacco Co. infra).    The encroachment of overhanging tree branches litigated in Lemmon v. Webb (1894) Times L.R. Vol. 10, 467 was also actionable only in nuisance – on sound reasoning. Lindley, L.J. found no analogy between an artificial projection and the consequential interference caused by the branch of a tree which could be severed.    Corbett v. Hill (1870) L.R. 9 Eq. 671 sustained an action in trespass and acknowledged an owner’s right to air space – at least to the vertical column of air over a building.    The decision in Wandsworth Board of Works v. United Telephone Co. (1884) 13 Q.B.D. 904, although rejecting a plea of trespass on the facts, confirmed a land owner’s rights to air space without explicitly defining the extent of those rights. Telephone wires strung above a street was held not to be a trespass because, by statute, the surface was vested in the board, not as absolute owner, but for the purpose only of maintaining a street. Accordingly, it acquired no right to the air above the street. Their Lordships distinguished between that kind of ownership and that of owners of land vested by ordinary conveyance. The tenor of the three judgments delivered is that absolute ownership of the surface in the Board would have created rights to the air space to justify a finding of trespass by the placement of overhead wires. This case has received recognition for the characterization given by Brett M.R. to the latin maxim as a “fanciful phrase” to diminish its application in a literal sense.    I come now to cases decided after the turn of the century. In Gifford v. Dent (1926) W.N. 336 and Kelsen v. Imperial Tobacco Co. [1957] 2 All E.R. 343 the court in each case leaned on the latin maxim in concluding that an overhanging sign amounted to a trespass of airspace.    McNair, J. in the Kelsen case refused to follow the decision in Pickering v. Rudd. In holding that a trespass had been committed as opposed to a nuisance he adopted the reasoning of cases which followed later in time. He referred, with approval, to both Wandsworth Board of Works and Gifford v. Dent. In rejecting Pickering, he thought it significant that in the Civil Aviation Act “the legislature found it necessary expressly to negative the action of trespass or nuisance” arising from an airplane overhead. He interpreted that to mean that the legislature did not share Lord Ellenborough’s view in Pickering. He said “Accordingly I reached the conclusion that a trespass and not a mere nuisance was created by the invasion of the plaintiff’s airspace by this sign”.    The facts recited by McNair, J. disclosed that the presence of the sign in his airspace caused the plaintiff no harm or inconvenience and did not diminish his enjoyment. Moreover, His Lordship put no value in the argument that the plaintiff did not require the use of the airspace. I particularly mention these facts because the test employed by the learned chambers judge, based on similar circumstances, according to the excerpt from his judgment quoted at the outset of these reasons, led to a verdict adverse to the appellants.    The learned chambers judge distinguished Kelsen on the ground that the litigants were tenants within the same building. With respect, that only clouds the issue. As McNair, J. discussed and disposed of the defendant’s reliance on the terms of its lease, the ratio of the case did not turn on the tenancies nor was this aspect argued by counsel before this court.    Counsel for the appellants argues, with some justification, that Kelsen and the case at bar are indistinguishable.    Plowman, J. presided over the case of Ward v. Gold (1969) 211 EG 155 [1969] EGD 630 where the offending intrusion consisted of overhanging eaves. There is nothing distinctive about this case except to say that in the opinion of Plowman, J. the Kelsen case was in point and he upheld the action taken in trespass.    The authorities to which I have referred following Fay v. Prentice establish that the right to use land includes the right to use and enjoy the airspace above the land. These cases cautiously fall short of saying that ownership of land includes ownership of all airspace above the land. In any event, they serve to make clear that intrusion by an artificial or permanent structure into the airspace of another is forbidden as a trespass.    Cases which fall into the second group involve transient invasion of airspace at a height unlikely to effect the landowner. The cases in this group to which the respondent is attracted deal with airplanes. Predicated on sound logic and common sense both case law and statute law now decree that a landowner cannot object to air traffic which does not interfere with the use and enjoyment of his property.    The respondent’s strongest submission is that actionable trespass only occurs when the intrusion into air space actually interferes with a landowner’s use and enjoyment of that space. Its submissions follow the statements leading to the decision reached by the chambers judge. The argument is directed to convince the court that a landowner cannot object to an intrusion into air space over his land which he is not actually occupying and using for the time being. Counsel points to public policy principles developed by the courts to permit the use of aircraft in airspace and then argues that analogous public policy considerations apply to airspace intrusion by overhead electrical installations. As an extension of that argument he says that tens of thousands of miles of transmission lines across Alberta occupy private property.    The analogy is hardly appropriate. Aircraft which are transient and invade space at a height beyond the contemplation of reasonable and ordinary use by the landowner cannot be equated with a low level intrusion of a permanent nature. I agree with the opinion stated of Griffiths, J. in the Bernstein v. Skyviews case (infra), that low flying aircraft might very well commit a trespass.    Moreover, if there are many miles of transmission lines already trespassing the airspace above private property without any leave or licence, they will not transform an unlawful practice into a lawful one.    The respondent cited Lacroix v. The Queen [1954] Ex. C.R. 69 to advance the proposition that the landowner’s rights to the airspace over his property were limited to what he could possess or occupy. This case arose out of a claim for compensation for an easement to provide lighting for the purposes of aerial navigation of aircraft using the Dorval Airport as well as a claim for damages. It was alleged that the airspace over the claimant’s land was used by aircraft as a flightway to and from the airport. Fournier, J. referred to the latin maxim as a maxim not suited to meet the development and invention of today’s world. In its application, its interpretation in his view, has to be restricted without depriving the landowner of full enjoyment of his property-a principle which he endorsed. That portion of his judgment which lends support to the respondent’s position is to be found at page 76 where he said:

   The second case which gives the respondent comfort is Air Canada v. R. [1978] 2 W.W.R. 694 cited to expound the proposition that ownership of air space cannot be claimed by anyone as it falls under the category of omnium communis. This case is distinguishable on the facts as the claim to jurisdiction to air space is made by the Province of Manitoba. It unsuccessfully asserted its right to levy a sales tax against Air Canada in respect of goods and services provided by it while occupying airspace over the Province. Moreover, the case is not founded in trespass. However, the comments of Monnnin, J.A. (now C.J.M.) are relevant and of some significance. After accepting a statement made by the trial judge, which is of no account here, he said at page 697:

   Later in his reasons, Mr. Justice Monnin (at page 699) quoted an extract from the judgment delivered in Lord Bernstein of Leigh v. Skyviews & Gen. Ltd., [1977] 2 All E.R. 902 at 907 – in which Griffiths, J. qualified the application of the latin maxim by suggesting “a balance” in compromising the rights of land owners against the general public. Monnin, J.A. then added these remarks:

   After giving due consideration to the judgment in Bernstein I find the reasoning of Griffiths, J. most persuasive. He reviewed the earlier decisions which found favour with the latin maxim and the circumstance in each instance in which it was applied. At page 905 of his reasons, he said:

   Following a reference to Gifford v. Dent Mr. Justice Griffiths discussed the judgment of McNair, J. in Kelsen.  He quoted the words used by McNair, J. in reaching his final conclusion and then made this assessment relevant to that decision at page 907:

   Griffiths, J. makes a valid distinction between permanent structures which interfere with air space and transient invasions by aircraft to demonstrate that differing considerations apply. At the same time, his remarks convey approval of the decision reached by McNair, J. in Kelsen. In my view the approach he pursues is both reasonable and practical. Lord Wilberforce took the opportunity to trace the latin maxim’s origin and to attack its literal application in Commissioner for Railways et al v. Valuer-General [1974] A.C. 328 (1973) 3 All E.R. 268. The maxim found its way into a dispute regarding the valuation of land for rating purposes. At page 351 (A.C.) Lord Wilberforce described the maxim as:

   The criticism levelled at the latin maxim by Lord Wilberforce and others no doubt influenced the reasoning of Griffiths, J. in Bernstein v. Skyviews. Recognizing that the maxim must be given limited application, Griffiths, J. conceived the idea of striking a “balance”.    The quotation from the Bernstein case at page 907, which appears in the reasons delivered by Monnin, J.A. in Air Canada provides a reasonable test in determining the rights of a landlord to the airspace above his land. He said:

   Fournier, J. in Lacroix limited the land owner’s rights to what he could possess and occupy. Griffiths, J. in Skyviews took a broader view by recognizing the landowner’s right to enjoy the use of air space above his land without limitation except as to height. Beyond the height necessary for the land owner’s use, the air space becomes public domain.    The Supreme Court of the United States has also considered the land owner’s rights in air space in United States v. Causby (1946) 328 U.S. 256. While rejecting the latin maxim as having no place in the modern world – it preserved the land owner’s rights to this extent at pp. 264 – 265 which, in my view, is consistent with the views of Griffiths, J. in Bernstein v. Skyviews.

   The two concepts which become apparent are firstly that the courts will not give literal effect to the latin maxim and secondly, the proper remedy for interference with a land owner’s air space with a permanent fixture is in trespass as opposed to nuisance.    In my opinion, the balancing criterion formulated by Griffiths, J. is a logical compromise to the rights of the landowner and the general public. It is a test I adopt. I view this test as saying a land owner is entitled to freedom from permanent structures which in any way impinge upon the actual or potential use and enjoyment of his land. The cross arms constitute a low level intrusion which interferes with the appellant’s potential, if not actual, use and enjoyment.  This amounts to trespass.    For the sole purpose of comment I refer to the cases of Woolerton and Wilson v. Richard Costain Ltd. [1970] 1 All E.R. 438 and Lewvest Ltd. v. Scotia Towers (1981) 126 D.L.R. 239, where, in each instance, it was held that an overhanging crane used in the construction of a building trespassed a land owner’s air space, notwithstanding that the cranes were not permanent intrusions. In light of the distinction now recognized in encroachment cases between nuisance and trespass my inclination would be to characterize the overhanging cranes as a nuisance.    I would allow the appeal and grant the appellants the declaratory relief sought by them. The appellants are entitled to costs throughout. HADDAD J.A. FOISY J.A.: I concur. ANDREKSON J. (ad hoc): I concur. ===========================================================================================       Bob Aaron is a Toronto real estate lawyer. He can be reached by email at bob@aaron.ca, phone 416-364-9366 or fax 416-364-3818.Visit the Toronto Star column archives at https://www.aaron.ca/columns for articles on this and other topics or his main webpage at www.aaron.ca.