Easements

An easement is a legal right to use part of someone else’s property for a specific purpose. Easements can be established in several ways:

• Through a recorded map;
• In a deed;
• By an agreement between two parties.

These documents may be recorded separately from ownership records.

The easiest way to find out if your property has an easement is by reviewing the Preliminary Title Report from when you bought your property. A title company is the one who prepares this report. It often includes details about any easements related to your property and/or references to recorded documents or maps.

Every deed includes a legal description of the property. It may include details about an easement, or refer to a recorded map that shows an easement.

You can search for easement records using the Recorder’s Index:

• Available online for documents recorded from 1973 to the previous business day.
• Searches are by name—not by address or parcel number.
• Use the names of the people or organizations that may be involved in an easement.

Please note:

• You cannot view full documents online.
• For documents before 1973, visit the Recorder’s Office lobby during business hours.
• Staff can explain how to search, but we cannot search for you.
• We cannot interpret easements or explain their effect.