Easement in Virginia
State-specific overview · Property & Real Estate
Virginia recognizes easements by express grant, implication, necessity, and prescription with a 20-year adverse possession period.
How Virginia treats Easement
Virginia law treats easements as property interests that run with the land and bind successors. Easements by prescription require 20 years of open, notorious, exclusive, and uninterrupted use. Virginia courts also recognize easements by necessity when land becomes landlocked or when utility access is essential. Express easements must comply with the Statute of Frauds and typically require written documentation.
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 Virginia.