Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is an Access Easement
An access easement is the recorded right to cross someone's land to reach a road or a landlocked tract.
Platbookmapper is an Amazon Associate. If you buy through an Amazon link on this page, we earn a commission. The link is a product, not the county map.
The plat draws the strip and says who benefits. It may be exclusive to one lot or shared by several. The fee owner still owns the dirt.
On the recorded sheet
Maintenance is often in a separate agreement. The plat may only create the right to pass.
AsphaltTons has a plain-English guide to driveway easements and shared driveway agreements that covers cost splits and upkeep.
The mix-up to avoid
A handshake driveway is not an access easement. If it is not recorded, a later buyer may not have it.
Find the county map
The county GIS map is the practical place to start. Find it from the Platbookmapper directory, then treat the recorded plat and deed as the documents behind the picture.
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.