Blog · September 27, 2026
Overhead vs Underground Utility Easements
An overhead easement allows wires and poles. An underground easement allows buried lines. A general utility easement may allow both.
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The plat should say which. A pole on the line is a clue to overhead rights. A pedestal or a junction box is a clue to buried plant. The grant is still the source.
On the recorded sheet
Clearance rules differ. Trees that are fine under a buried cable can conflict with a span.
The mix-up to avoid
Burying a line later does not shrink the easement to the trench width.
Find the county map
Open Platbookmapper and pick the county that taxes the land. Use that viewer to get the parcel ID, then match it to the recorded plat if you need the easements and lot numbers.
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey.