Easement in Louisiana
State-specific overview · Property & Real Estate
Louisiana's civil-law system treats easements (servitudes) distinctly, requiring express written agreement and specific statutory formalities.
How Louisiana treats Easement
Unlike common-law states, Louisiana requires easements to be established by written contract, testament, or judgment—not by implication or prescription alone. Louisiana Civil Code articles govern servitudes and distinguish between personal and real servitudes. Easements must be registered in the conveyance records and clearly describe the right, the burdened property, and the beneficiary.
The general definition of Easement
The right to use someone else's land for a specific purpose, like crossing it or running utilities.
An easement gives one person or entity the legal right to use another person's property in a limited way. For example, a utility company might have an easement to run electric lines under your yard, or a neighbor might have an easement to cross your land to reach their property. The property owner still owns the land but cannot prevent the easement holder from exercising their right.
Read the full Easement entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Louisiana.