An access easement is a legal tool that allows a person access to a piece of property that he or she does not own. There are essentially three types. Some are connected to land permanently, and in most cases these are designed for public use; sidewalks that cut through private property are one example, as are telephone and electrical poles and wiring. It’s also possible for owners to grant easements to others in order to allow them to cut through or use limited portions of private land. Easements can also be implied, which usually happens when someone has been using land for long stretch of time as if there was an easement when there isn’t; the law sometimes will decide that an easement exists by implication even if it was never something that was overtly agreed to. It is usually really difficult to prove an implied easement, and not all courts support the idea. In most cases access easements have to be really carefully documented and recorded in order to be enforced.
Some of the most common easements are actually tied to the property itself, which means that they are recorded in the official land deed and can’t be removed by subsequent owners, at least not without a lot of legal argumentation. Theses are known formally as “appurtenant easements.” Public easements often take this form. Railways, public utilities, and sidewalks are all examples of things that often cut through private land. A homeowner doesn’t own an electrical pole on his property, but he has to allow the utility company access to the land for its installation, maintenance, and repair.
Private easements might also take this form, particularly in communities where there is a shared resource like a road or a body of water that abuts one lot, but not others. A person who owns beachfront property might be subjected to an easement that allows neighbors and possibly even members of the public to cut through a corner or section of the land in order to get to the shore, for instance, and people who own property on main roads sometimes have to allow access to those in nearby lots so that they can get in and out more easily. These sorts of easements tend to be appurtenant easements since they’re often viewed as more or less essential; taking away an owner’s choice is often a god way to avoid conflict.
Some private easements are between individuals for access that is not essential, and in most cases these sorts of easements are dependent on the individuals. They aren’t tied to the property, in other words, and they can often be rescinded or taken away at any time. Neighbors may grant access over their property to other neighbors to get to a local lake, pond, or forested area more quickly, for instance, or they may allow certain people the right to come onto private land to hunt or fish.
These sorts of easements don’t usually survive the parties that made them, and if either party moves or transfers their land the easement is generally canceled. They aren’t always formalized, which means that they aren’t always written down or recorded, particularly not if they’re structured as agreements or understandings between friends. In most cases this is fine, but it can pose a problem when and if disputes arise. People sometimes remember the terms of agreements differently, and circumstances can also change over time. Having something in writing also makes things more transparent in the event of a sale or transfer.
In some cases easements can arise more or less on their own, either through neglect or “adverse use” — basically when someone uses another’s land knowing it’s not his but is never punished or told to stop. If this sort of use goes on for a long time the courts may declare that an implied or “constructive” easement exists, which will give the person using the land the legal right to continue doing so even though the owner never formally agreed. In most cases the owner has to know about the use but simply ignore it for this sort of easement to arise.
For example, if person A travels over land owned by person B for a years and years with no opposition even though person B sees him do it, or if he enters person B’s land to hunt or camp every year with A’s full knowledge, the situation can generate a constructive easement. The access to the property is without permission, but the owner has done nothing to put a stop to it. Different courts have different laws governing the amount of time it takes for an easement to be implied, and different jurisdictions have different rules, too. This sort of access easement doesn’t exist everywhere.
Attorneys almost universally recommend that access easements be recorded and properly filed with regional registry offices. The agreement should clearly explain what kind of access is granted and who is allowed to make use of it. It should also detail how to terminate the agreement, as well as what course of action to take if either party is in violation. Even if it doesn’t seem necessary to put something in writing, the effort is often worth it in the event of a dispute or problem.
Access easements as they are understood to grant access to a property by the public, utility, or government agency are not tax deductible. However, if a landowner were to grant an easement for purposes of conservation, then it is possible that this type of easement would provide some tax incentives.
A conservation easement is granted to a nonprofit or government agency in order to protect the habitat of wildlife that resides on the property. This type of agreement does not grant access to anyone other than the beneficiary of the easement. Whether or not public access is granted is decided when the terms of the easement are being agreed upon between the owner of the land and the agency being granted the easement.
The easement would also protect the property from being developed by future owners or heirs. While a conservation easement might provide tax incentives, it can also lower the value of the property since undeveloped land is usually prized for its ability to be developed.
In recent years, the IRS has more heavily scrutinized conservation easements due to landowners using the easements for billions of dollars in tax breaks. Often, owners take deductions that overinflate the value of the land. For a landowner considering a conservation easement, they would need to determine whether the tax incentives are worth the lower value of the land.
A utility easement allows for the utility company to access any lines, cables, or equipment they may have on your property. As long as the utility company has a clear path to their equipment, a landowner may do as they wish with the easement, including landscaping and allowing others access to or through the property.
If a landowner blocks a utility company from accessing their equipment, such as by building a fence or building an addition to their home over one of the utility company's lines, then the utility company is within its right to remove the obstruction. Once a utility easement has been granted or becomes necessary, it is nearly impossible for the landowner to remove or make changes to the easement.
Laws regarding the relocation of an easement will vary from state to state, but in most cases, a landowner should be able to relocate an easement that is creating a burden to the landowner. In most cases, a landowner will have two options.
The landowner would first obtain the approval of the beneficiaries of the easement. The beneficiaries would also need to approve the proposed new location of the easement. Once both parties are in agreement, the new agreement would be recorded in the county office for which the property is located.
Without the cooperation of the beneficiaries of the easement, the landowner may need to make his or her case in court to ensure the proposed new easement location doesn't create a burden on those who were granted access.
There are cases in which it might not be possible to relocate an easement. For example, you might have a neighbor that cannot access their property without first accessing yours. If the terrain allows only one possible route into their property, then you could not reasonably relocate the easement as it would create a barrier to your neighbor accessing their own property. It is their right to have access to their property.
These types of cases have been heard in every state, and while the outcomes will be similar, there may be some minor differences. Consulting with a real estate attorney will provide the best answers to your situation and location.
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