Tomt

Tomt is a term used in several Scandinavian languages, notably Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish, to denote a defined parcel of land intended for use as a building site or as a land lot. In English, the closest equivalents are plot, lot, or building site. The term describes both the physical area and its legal designation within land records.

A tomt is defined by its boundaries and size within official cadastral or land registry records. It may be a stand-alone parcel or part of a larger property, and it is typically identified by a unique parcel number. The exact rights and restrictions attached to a tomt depend on local land-use planning and ownership, which vary by country and municipality.

Tomt is a central concept in real estate transactions and construction planning. When a tomt is sold or developed, buyers and builders must consider zoning rules, building setbacks, road access, and utilities. Building permits, environmental requirements, and neighborly easements may apply, affecting what can be built and how the land can be used.

Etymologically, tomt derives from Germanic roots common to Scandinavian languages and is cognate with terms describing a plot of land in related languages. A common but unrelated term is tomte, a folkloric household spirit in Nordic folklore, which is not the same as a real estate tomt.

See also: Plot (real estate), Building plot, Land registry, Property.