Definition
A legal right to use part of another's property for a specific purpose, such as utilities, access, or drainage.
An easement grants the right to use a portion of land for a defined purpose without owning it. HOAs deal with easements frequently — utility easements crossing lots, access easements to common areas, and drainage easements.
Easements run with the land and are recorded, so they bind future owners. Understanding the easements affecting a community matters for maintenance responsibility, construction approvals, and resolving disputes about property use.