Legal Definitions - private statute

A private statute is a type of law that applies only to a specific individual or group, rather than the general public. It is also known as a special statute.

• A private statute may be passed to grant a particular person or organization a specific right or exemption from a law that applies to everyone else.
• For instance, a private statute may be passed to allow a company to use a certain piece of land for a specific purpose, even if it goes against zoning laws.

These examples illustrate how a private statute can be used to create exceptions or special rules for certain individuals or groups.