If you’ve ever looked at a home survey and seen labels like “utility easement” or “sewer easement,” you may have wondered: what do these actually mean—and why should I care? In Texas, easements give the city or utility providers the legal right to access parts of your property for specific uses, even though you still own the land.

Understanding where easements are and what they permit is essential—because while they might not impact your daily life today, they can suddenly matter a lot when you’re planning to build, landscape, or even just replace a fence.

When we first moved to our current home a few years ago, we hired someone to install a fence in our front yard. He took one look at the layout and warned us not to build too close to the street—even though it looked like we had the space. Sure enough, not long after that, the city came through and installed a sidewalk that would have required us to move the fence back by five feet had we placed it where we originally planned. That’s the kind of surprise an easement is designed to prevent—but only if you know it’s there and respect it.

What Is an Easement?

An easement gives someone the legal right to access or use part of your property for a specific purpose, even though you still own the land. These rights are recorded in public records, often noted on a survey or title report. Whether you’re buying, selling, or planning a renovation, it’s important to understand what easements exist and how they could impact use of the property.

Common easements in Texas include:

1. Sewer Easements (Wastewater Easements)

A Texas survey with a sewer easement shown typically indicates the presence of a legal right granted to a utility company or entity to access a specific portion of your property for the purpose of installing, maintaining, or repairing a sewer line. These allow the city access to sewer lines running underneath your property—typically along the back or side. They matter because:

• You can’t build permanent structures (like a pool, casita, or deck) over them.

• The city can dig up landscaping, driveways, or fences to repair lines—with no obligation to restore custom finishes.

• Access can be required with little notice in case of leaks or line failures.

2. Sidewalk & Right-of-Way Easements

These are often along the front of your property and allow for public sidewalks or future street expansions.

• The city can add a sidewalk or widen the curb, even if it appears to be part of your yard.

• Fences, trees, or even signs in this area can be subject to removal.

This was exactly what saved us—knowing about the sidewalk easement saved us time, money, and the hassle of rebuilding a fence.

3. Utility Easements (Electric, Gas, Water, Cable)

These typically run along lot lines and allow utility companies to maintain or upgrade service lines.

• You shouldn’t build sheds, pour concrete, or plant large trees in these zones.

• If underground lines need servicing, the city or utility company can dig through anything in the way.

4. Drainage Easements

Drainage easements ensure water flows properly through or around your property, especially during storms.

• Blocking or altering this space can cause flooding—and legal issues.

• Even simple grading changes, fencing, or landscaping can be problematic if they affect flow.

5. Ingress/Egress Easements

These grant others the right to cross your property—common with shared driveways or back-lot access.

• While not always visible, they must remain open and unobstructed.

• They can affect privacy and future plans, especially if you’re considering subdividing or adding gates.

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