What characterizes a public nuisance?

A public nuisance is characterized by the fact that it affects a significant portion of the public or the community at large. Unlike private nuisance, which typically concerns the interests of a specific individual or a small group of individuals, public nuisance involves actions or conditions that threaten public health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community. Examples include obstructing public roads, polluting public waterways, or creating noise that disrupts a neighborhood.

In contrast, affecting an individual's property value relates more to private nuisances, which primarily concern the impact on a specific person's property rights. Similarly, personal discomfort or annoyance might also pertain to private nuisances, as these issues typically impact individuals rather than the public as a whole. Lastly, while land use can contribute to nuisances, it is not the sole indicator of a public nuisance, as the defining aspect is its effect on a broader section of the population rather than just private land usage.