What Is Easement?
Easement: A legal right for someone else to use part of your property for a specific purpose.
An easement gives a person, company or government the right to use part of your property for a specific purpose. It usually stays with the property when it's sold.
Common easements
- Utility easements: for power, water, sewer and cable lines
- Access easements: letting a neighbor cross your land to reach theirs
- Drainage easements
- Shared driveways
Why it matters
You may not be able to build a fence, pool, shed or addition on an easement area. Utilities can enter to maintain their lines.
Where to find them
Easements appear as exceptions in the title commitment and on a survey. Ask for copies of any recorded easements you don't understand.