"Texas, often referred to as the Lone Star State, is a thriving hub for economic growth and innovation, making it an attractive destination for commercial real estate investment." - Chris Evans

Understanding Easements: What Texas Property Owners Need to Know

Whether you're buying land, selling a home, or planning new construction, understanding easements is crucial. Easements affect how a property can be used and who can access portions of it. Yet, many Texas property owners overlook this critical detail—until it causes a problem.

In this guide, we’ll break down what easements are, how they can impact your property, and why a professional land survey is the best way to protect your investment.

What Is an Easement?

An easement is a legal right that allows someone else to use part of your property for a specific purpose. While the property remains under your ownership, the easement holder gains certain access or usage rights. In Texas, easements are common and can affect both residential and commercial properties.

Types of Easements in Texas

Not all easements are the same. Here are some of the most common ones property owners encounter:

Utility Easements

These allow utility companies to access portions of land to install or maintain power lines, water lines, sewers, and other infrastructure. They often run underground or along property lines.

Ingress and Egress Easements

These grant someone the right to travel through your property to reach another parcel. If a neighboring property is landlocked, they may have a permanent access easement across your land.

Drainage Easements

Drainage easements ensure water flows away from properties in a safe and predictable way. These are especially important in flood-prone areas of Texas and may affect where you can build or grade.

Prescriptive Easements

These occur when someone has used a part of your land openly and continuously for a long period—often without your permission—but now has a legal right to continue that use.

Why Easements Matter for Property Owners

Easements can:

• Limit where you can build

• Reduce usable yard or development space

• Lead to disputes with neighbors or utility companies

• Impact resale value or cause title issues

Ignoring an easement can delay construction projects, trigger legal disputes, or complicate future transactions. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what easements exist on your property—before you buy or build.

How Easements Are Identified

Easements are typically recorded in property deeds or referenced in subdivision plats. However, they’re not always obvious, and not all are visible from a basic site visit.

This is where a land survey comes in. A professional surveyor can:

• Research and identify recorded easements

• Map easements on your survey plat

• Ensure you understand their location, size, and impact

• Help resolve unclear or undocumented easement issues

If you're buying property, a survey will show you where easements are located so you don’t unknowingly invest in land you can’t fully use. If you're selling, a survey ensures full transparency, preventing surprises at closing.

Easements and Permitting

When applying for building permits in many Texas counties and municipalities, local planning departments may require a current survey that clearly shows easements. This is especially true for:

• New homes or commercial buildings

• Pools and accessory structures

• Driveways and fences near easement zones

Building within an easement can result in denied permits, forced removal, or fines.

South Texas Surveying: Your Partner in Easement Identification

At South Texas Surveying, we work with homeowners, real estate investors, and developers across Texas to deliver precise land surveys that clearly show easements, boundaries, and topographical features. We help you move forward with confidence, knowing you’ve uncovered everything that could affect your project or transaction.

Our team is experienced in:

• Easement research and documentation

• ALTA/NSPS surveys for title companies

• Topographic and boundary surveys with easement overlays

• Subdivision plat reviews and zoning requirements

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let an Easement Derail Your Plans

An easement doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker—but it does need to be understood. Whether you're building a new structure, buying property, or preparing to sell, a survey is the best way to uncover potential easement issues before they cost you time or money.

If you’re unsure about what’s on your land, contact South Texas Surveying today. We’ll make sure there are no surprises when it comes to easements, boundaries, or any other survey concerns.