Access lanes, pipelines, and power lines carve invisible pathways called easements across rural parcels. Overlook them and you could pour concrete on someone else’s right-of-way—or find your new shop door blocked by utility trucks. May’s cooperative weather make boundary walks pleasant, but the real detective work starts online with AcreValue. Here’s how to uncover, mark, and respect easements so you can construct friction-free.
Pull Documents, Then Walk Lines
Open up a parcel report in AcreValue, and check the “easements” section for reference. Cross-check county plats or call utilities for as-built centerlines. Mark wide corridors—usually 30 to 50 feet—on a printed map, then pace them on-site using GPS or a laser rangefinder. Drive stakes at both edges; paint tops bright orange for visibility through summer grass.
- Two stakes per 100 ft to show corridor width.
- Fluorescent flagging tape fluttering at eye level.
- Spray chalk for temporary turf lines.
- Laminate map sheets for pocket durability.
Field Marking Essentials
Fold Easements into Design Decisions
Shift building footprints at least ten feet outside easements for maintenance clearance. Plan driveways perpendicular where crossings are unavoidable; utilities favor thicker road-base and sleeves at these points. Notify neighbors of your staked lines—easement files sometimes span multiple owners, and consensus prevents future disputes.
Peace-of-Mind Payoffs
- No surprise excavation bills when utility locates pipeline dents.
- Insurance compliance—many policies void if structures straddle rights-of-way.
- Future sale ease—buyers love clear, documented corridors.
- Better neighbor relations via transparent boundary stewardship.
Final Thoughts
Easement awareness is the unsung hero of smooth development. Digging through AcreValue records and pacing property can shield you from projects with legal snarls.