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Understanding Easements Through Land Surveys in Houston

What Are Easements—and Why Do They Matter in Houston?

Whether you’re buying land, preparing to build, or reviewing title documents, one of the most important—and commonly misunderstood—elements is an easement. These are the legal rights that allow others to use part of your property for specific purposes, such as utilities, drainage, or shared access.

And the only way to fully understand how easements impact your land is through a professional land survey.

In Houston and the surrounding counties—Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, and Chambers—easements are common and can significantly affect what you can build, where you can build it, and even your property value.

What an Easement Means for Your Property

An easement gives someone else the legal right to use a specific portion of your property, even though you still own it. There are many types of easements, including:

• Utility easements – for water, sewer, electric, and gas lines

• Drainage easements – for stormwater runoff or detention

• Access easements – shared driveways or private road entry

• Pipeline and oil/gas easements – often found in rural counties

• View or light easements – common in urban areas with height restrictions

📌 Easements can limit where you can build, affect fencing or landscaping, and impact resale value if not properly disclosed.

How Land Surveys Reveal Easements

When you hire a licensed land surveyor in Houston, they’ll conduct a detailed review of:

• The deed and legal description of the property

• Title commitments and documents from the title company

• Previous plats and recorded surveys

• Any visible or unrecorded utility installations or access points

Then, through field measurements and mapping, the surveyor will document:

✔️ Exact locations of easements
✔️ Dimensions and boundaries of impacted areas
✔️ Any visible encroachments or potential violations
✔️ How the easement may affect future development or improvement plans

What Kind of Survey Should You Order?

📍 Category 1A Survey (Residential or Small Commercial)

• Commonly required by title companies in Texas real estate transactions

• Identifies visible improvements and known easements

• Used during purchases, sales, or refinances

📍 ALTA/NSPS Survey (For Commercial or Financed Properties)

• The most detailed survey available

• Combines fieldwork with a complete title document review

• Required by lenders, investors, and attorneys during major real estate transactions

📍 Topographic or Boundary Surveys

• Used for planning construction or confirming buildable space

• Helps determine how easements impact grading, utilities, and placement of structures

Houston-Area Examples Where Easements Matter

🏙️ Harris County (Houston, Bellaire, Spring Branch)

• Older neighborhoods often have unrecorded alley or rear utility easements

• Essential to confirm before building garages, patios, or fencing

🏡 Montgomery County (The Woodlands, Conroe)

• Expanding subdivisions may have shared access roads and HOA drainage easements

• Always verify before subdividing or constructing ADUs

🏗️ Fort Bend County (Katy, Sugar Land, Fulshear)

• MUDs require clearance of drainage and utility easements before permitting

• Surveys help builders avoid costly site plan revisions

🌊 Brazoria & Galveston Counties

• Easements tied to flood control and detention are common

• Coastal areas may include public access or erosion buffer easements

🌾 Liberty, Waller, and Chambers Counties

• Oil and gas easements may affect rural development

• Pipeline easements can limit fencing, digging, or building placement

What Happens If You Ignore Easements?

• 🚫 Your permit may be denied

• 🧱 You could be forced to remove a structure or improvement

• ⚖️ You may face a lawsuit or title claim

• 💸 You might experience a drop in property value or future resale complications

How South Texas Surveying Protects Your Property Interests

At South Texas Surveying, we specialize in helping property owners, buyers, and developers understand the full picture—including easements—before making major decisions.

We offer:

✔️ Category 1A and ALTA/NSPS surveys with easement detail
✔️ Site planning surveys to avoid utility conflicts
✔️ Subdivision and platting surveys that identify shared access or utility rights
✔️ Decades of local experience across Houston and surrounding counties

📞 Need a survey to understand how easements affect your project? Contact South Texas Surveying today for trusted guidance and fast turnaround.

Don’t Overlook the Invisible Boundaries

You can’t always see an easement—but it can still control what you can (and can't) do with your land. A professional land survey gives you the clarity to build, buy, or sell with confidence—while avoiding disputes and costly surprises.

📍 Serving Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, and Chambers Counties, South Texas Surveying helps you uncover every hidden detail.