An easement is a recorded legal right granted to one party (the dominant estate or utility company) to use a portion of another party's land (the servient estate) for a specific purpose. Common easements include utility easements (gas, water, sewer, electric, telecom), access easements (driveways, paths), drainage easements, and conservation easements.
For contractors, easements affect what can be built where. Construction within a utility easement typically requires approval from the easement holder and may not allow permanent structures. Easement violations can result in forced removal of completed work. Always review the property survey and title commitment for easements before site planning.