Easement in Pennsylvania
State-specific overview · Property & Real Estate
Pennsylvania enforces easements by grant, necessity, and prescription; prescriptive easements require 21 years of uninterrupted use.
How Pennsylvania treats Easement
Pennsylvania recognizes easements created by express written grant, by necessity when property is landlocked, and by prescription through 21 years of open, notorious, continuous, and exclusive use without the owner's permission. Easements must generally be recorded in the county recorder's office to bind future owners. Pennsylvania courts interpret easement language strictly and do not expand an easement's scope beyond its original purpose or grant.
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 Pennsylvania.