Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is a Drainage Easement
A drainage easement keeps a path open for stormwater across a lot.
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The plat draws it where water is supposed to travel: a swale, a pipe, or a pond outfall. Filling it or fencing it solid can flood a neighbor and violate the plat.
On the recorded sheet
The note may name the city, the county, or the homeowners association as the party who can enter to maintain it.
The mix-up to avoid
A low spot in the yard is not a drainage easement unless the plat or a separate instrument created one.
Find the county map
Start at Platbookmapper, search the county, and open the local GIS link. Write down the parcel number before you compare the screen to a paper plat.
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.