Can a utility company run over your property?

As the property owner, you could have several types of utility lines running under or over your land, such as electric or gas lines. If these lines exist, a utility company can access them if there’s a problem, even if that means going onto your property to do so.

Can a homeowner get an easement for an underground power line?

Many homeowners have underground or overhead power lines running through their properties. All types of utility companies are granted easements on the lands over or under which their lines run. Your electric power company, for example, usually has an easement to use the portion of your land on which its towers and lines sit.

Can a utility company run wire through your yard?

A classic example is one in which a utility company, such as an electric and power company, telephone company or Internet provider, has the right to cross your property to run cables or maintain the utility. In fact, most homes have utility easements running through the yards, both front and back.

Who is responsible for paying electric power easement?

As the owner of a property hosting a utility easement, you’re entitled to reasonable use of the land over which the easement runs, but you can’t unduly or unreasonably interfere with the right of the utility easement holder to use its easement. Also, you’re still responsible for paying property taxes on the property where the easement runs.

Can a utility use a corridor on your property?

In other cases, utilities may have a specific right, granted by your deed, to use a corridor on your property—usually on a boundary line or near the property’s perimeter—to set up utility poles, lines, or towers. Here’s what you need to know. You may have many utility lines leading to your house for certain services.

Where can I find a plat for my property?

A plat is typically included with your property’s paperwork, available at your local assessor’s office, or accessible online. Check The Deed To The Property One way to check your property lines is to look at the deed of the property. As a legal document about your property, the deed should have a worded description of your land’s boundaries.

Can a property owner put a utility easement on their property?

Occasionally, property owners buy a home with towers at the edge of their property. These are usually towers connected to each other by power lines. If you see these massive towers on the property, check your deed to see if this specific easement is in writing. Property owners have rights regarding their utility easements.

What are the rights of a lakefront property?

They include the right to wharf out to a navigable depth; to take water for domestic and agricultural purposes; to use land added by accretion or exposed by reliction; to take ice; to fish, boat, hunt, swim; to such other uses as water bodies are normally put (see: Sanborn v. People’s Ice Co. 82 Minn 43, 84 NW 641 [1900] and Lamprey v.

What to do if a utility destroys your property?

You also can seek an injunction or restraining order to ensure that the utility accesses the meter without destroying your property. In many cases, though, unless the utility was negligent or willfully destroyed property, the property owner bears the cost of replacing their landscaping or whatever the utility destroyed.

When do you have an encroachment on your property?

Put simply, an encroachment is when another person puts up a structure that intrudes on (or over) your land. This issue might come up if, for example, one of your neighbors were to build a shed that is partially on your property, or expands his house so that a porch ends up on your property.

Can a utility company take you to court for an easement?

Remember that your deed permits utility companies to access it whenever needed so that they can take you to court—they can ask the judge for an injunction to stop you from blocking entry onto your property—for violating the easement. While some easements expire, utility easements usually don’t.

When does a utility company have a right to access your property?

If these lines exist, a utility company can access them if there’s a problem, even if that means going onto your property to do so. In other cases, utilities may have a specific right, granted by your deed, to use a corridor on your property—usually on a boundary line or near the property’s perimeter—to set up utility poles, lines, or towers.

Can a property owner Sue a utility company?

The utility company has the right to use the land to maintain and repair their lines, pipes, or equipment. Property owners, however, can take a utility company to court if a company abuses the easement. If, for example, a utility company enters your property to read the water meter, and in the process destroys landscaping, you can sue for damages.

How does the National Gas and oil cooperative work?

Natural Gas National Gas & Oil Cooperative (NGO) NGO is a retail natural gas distribution cooperative that provides natural gas service to more than 35,000 residential and commercial members within a six-county area. This service is provided through a network of nearly 1,000 miles of distribution pipelines.

Who are the natural gas companies in Ohio?

NGOD operates a number of oil and natural gas wells, participates in joint ventures to drill wells, and also operates gathering pipelines to deliver its gas to markets in several locations in eastern and central Ohio. In 2003, NGOT became Ohio’s newest gas transmission company.

When does an oil or Gas Company lease the surface estate?

When an oil or gas company leases the mineral rights from a mineral owner, that company essentially stands in the shoes of the mineral owner. Thus, it has the right to use the surface estate.

How does a landowner sign an oil and gas lease?

Once the lease is signed by the landowner, the lease is then given to the landman who takes it to the oil and gas company. The oil and gas company will then have a certain period of time, which is usually set forth in the order of payment, to review and accept or reject the lease.

Can a property owner take a utility company to court?

Usually, the utility companies don’t pay anything for the use of the easement. The utility company has the right to use the land to maintain and repair their lines, pipes, or equipment. Property owners, however, can take a utility company to court if a company abuses the easement.

Can a surface owner purchase minerals from an oil company?

A surface owner may also seek an agreement as to surface-use with the oil company that leased the minerals. The oil company, however, is under no obligation to enter into this type of agreement. A third option may be for a surface owner to purchase all, or a portion of the undivided mineral estate underlying his land.