What Are the Lot Boundaries, and Do Any Easements Apply?

Why Do Property Boundaries Matter When Buying a Home?

Property boundaries identify the legal limits of the land you're purchasing.

They help establish which areas belong to the property and where neighboring parcels begin. This matters when you're planning to install a fence, build a garage, expand a driveway, add landscaping, or make other improvements.

For example, imagine you're looking at a home in Wasilla with a spacious backyard. The listing photographs show a large grassy area extending behind the house, and it appears to be part of the property.

However, the recorded property boundaries may show that the lot ends before the tree line. The remaining land could belong to a neighboring owner or be subject to a separate right-of-way.

This is why buyers shouldn't rely solely on:

• Existing fences
• Landscaping and tree lines
• Driveways and gravel paths
• Online property maps
• The way neighboring properties appear to be divided

These features can be helpful visual references, but they don't necessarily establish the legal property lines.

Knowing the actual boundaries helps you understand exactly what you're purchasing and what areas you can reasonably plan to use.

How Can You Find Your Property's Actual Lot Boundaries?

There are several documents that can help you understand a property's boundaries.

Property Survey

A property survey is prepared by a qualified land surveyor and can identify the property's boundary lines, dimensions, survey monuments, and other relevant features.

Depending on the type and scope of the survey, it may also show buildings, driveways, fences, and potential encroachments.

If you're planning to install a fence, build an addition, or make improvements near a property line, a professional survey can help clarify where the work can take place.

An older survey may still provide useful information, but buyers should confirm whether it is sufficient for their intended purpose and whether any changes have occurred since it was prepared.

Recorded Subdivision Plat

If the property is part of a subdivision, the recorded plat is another important document to review.

A plat is a map showing how a larger parcel of land was divided into individual lots and other designated areas.

It may include:

• Lot numbers and dimensions
• Street layouts
• Rights-of-way
• Utility easements
• Access easements
• Drainage easements
• Plat notes and restrictions

For example, a subdivision plat in Eagle River or Palmer may show a utility easement running along the rear boundary of several residential lots.

Even if the area looks like an ordinary part of the backyard, the recorded plat may identify specific rights or restrictions affecting that section of land.

Legal Description

The legal description identifies the specific parcel being transferred in a real estate transaction.

It may refer to a subdivision, lot and block number, survey, or another recognized land description.

The legal description is important because it helps establish which parcel is included in the purchase and should be consistent with the relevant title and property records.

Title Report

A title report or title commitment can help identify recorded matters affecting ownership of the property.

These may include:

• Recorded easements
• Rights-of-way
• Covenants and restrictions
• Existing liens
• Other recorded interests affecting the property

Reviewing the title documents can help buyers identify matters that may affect how they use the land.

If something is unclear, ask the title company or a qualified real estate attorney to explain the applicable documents.

What Is an Easement in Real Estate?

An easement is a legal right that allows someone to use a specific portion of another person's property for an authorized purpose.

It generally does not transfer ownership of the affected land. Instead, it establishes certain rights of use that may benefit another property owner, a utility provider, or another authorized party.

For example, a neighboring property may have a recorded access easement that allows its owner to cross a designated portion of your land to reach their own property.

Another common example is a utility easement that allows a utility provider to access underground lines or equipment for installation, inspection, repairs, and maintenance.

Easements are not automatically a problem. Many residential properties have them, and they can be necessary for roads, utilities, and shared access.

What matters is understanding:

• Where the easement is located.
• Who benefits from it.
• What activities it allows.
• Whether there are restrictions on the property owner's use.
• Who is responsible for maintenance, if specified.
• Whether the easement could affect future improvements.

The actual recorded document and applicable law determine the rights and obligations involved.

Common Types of Easements Alaska Homebuyers Should Know

When reviewing a property in Alaska, you may encounter several types of easements.

Utility Easements

Utility easements allow authorized utility providers to access designated areas for infrastructure and maintenance.

These may involve:

• Electrical lines
• Water and sewer lines
• Natural gas infrastructure
• Telecommunications lines
• Other utility equipment

A utility easement may run along the front, rear, or side of a residential lot.

For example, if you're considering building a detached garage near the back of a property in Wasilla, an existing utility easement could affect where the structure can be placed.

Don't assume that an area is available for construction simply because it appears open.

Access Easements

An access easement allows someone to travel across a designated portion of another property to reach a location.

This can be particularly important for rural Alaska properties where a driveway, private road, or shared access route may cross land owned by someone else.

Before purchasing, understand who has the right to use the access route and whether the recorded agreement addresses maintenance and other responsibilities.

Road Rights-of-Way

A right-of-way may reserve a designated area for road or public access purposes.

In Alaska, buyers may encounter section-line easements, which are reserved access corridors associated with certain land parcels.

However, an important distinction exists: a legally reserved right-of-way does not necessarily mean a constructed, maintained, or readily usable road is present.

If you're purchasing acreage or rural property, don't assume that a mapped access corridor automatically provides convenient year-round access.

Drainage Easements

Drainage easements may allow water to flow through a designated portion of a property or provide access for drainage infrastructure and maintenance.

These can affect how homeowners manage landscaping, grading, structures, and other improvements.

For example, if an easement is located along the rear portion of a lot, certain changes to the ground level or construction in that area may be restricted.

The recorded terms should be reviewed before making plans.

Pedestrian Easements

Some easements allow people to walk through a designated area of private property.

These may be associated with access routes or other shared-use arrangements.

If a property has a pedestrian easement, buyers should understand where it runs and what rights it provides.

Can an Easement Affect What You Can Do With Your Property?

Yes, depending on the terms of the easement.

An easement may limit certain activities within the affected area, particularly when those activities could interfere with the rights granted to another party.

For example, you may need to reconsider plans involving:

• Building a fence across an access route
• Installing a shed over underground utility lines
• Constructing a garage within a designated easement area
• Planting large trees where utility maintenance access is required
• Changing the natural flow of water through a drainage easement
• Blocking a shared driveway or access route

However, an easement doesn't necessarily mean that every improvement is prohibited.

Some easements allow certain landscaping or other uses as long as they don't interfere with the authorized purpose.

Before starting a project, review the recorded easement document and check with the appropriate utility provider, local authority, or qualified professional.

It's much easier to understand these restrictions before purchasing than to discover them after you've already planned or started an improvement.

How Can You Check Whether a Property Has Easements?

Before closing, buyers should review the property's available records and ask questions about anything they don't understand.

Here are some useful places to start.

Review the Recorded Plat

If the property is part of a subdivision, request a copy of the recorded plat.

Look for labels or notes identifying:

• Utility easements
• Access easements
• Rights-of-way
• Drainage areas
• Other restrictions affecting the lot

Pay attention to where these areas are located in relation to the house, driveway, garage, and backyard.

Review the Title Commitment

A title commitment can identify recorded easements and other matters affecting the property.

Review the exceptions and attached documents rather than looking only at the summary.

If you find an unfamiliar reference, ask the title company for the underlying recorded document and clarification.

Check Available Land Records

Alaska's Department of Natural Resources provides access to land records and information about surveys, easements, and property access.

The Alaska Recorder's Office also maintains recorded documents that may help buyers investigate matters affecting a property.

Depending on the location and type of property, buyers may need to consult the appropriate recording district, municipal records, or other agencies.

Consider a Professional Survey

If the boundaries are unclear, the existing survey is outdated or insufficient, or you're planning improvements close to a property line, consider hiring a licensed Alaska land surveyor.

A surveyor can help identify the property's boundaries and evaluate relevant survey information.

Remember, online parcel maps and GIS tools are useful for preliminary research, but they should not be treated as a substitute for a professional boundary survey.

07 / Rural Property Access

Why Alaska Buyers Should Pay Special Attention to Rural Property Access

For buyers considering rural property in Southcentral Alaska, access deserves just as much attention as the lot boundaries themselves.

A property may look accessible on a map, but that does not automatically mean the owner has a legally established right to use the road or route leading to it.

Before purchasing rural land, consider these questions:

Is there a legal right to access the property?

Confirm whether access is established through a public road, recorded easement, right-of-way, or another legal arrangement.

Is there an existing road or driveway?

Look at whether the property has an established access route and whether that route is included in the property's legal access rights.

Can the route be used throughout the year?

In Alaska, seasonal conditions can affect how easily a property can be reached. A route that works during summer may present different challenges during winter.

Who maintains the road?

Find out whether road maintenance is handled by a public agency, private road association, neighboring property owners, or individual landowners.

Are there restrictions on improving the access route?

Before planning to widen a driveway, improve a road, or install additional access features, determine whether easement terms or other restrictions apply.

These considerations can be especially important when purchasing acreage or rural property in areas such as Wasilla, Palmer, Big Lake, and other parts of the Mat-Su Valley.

08 / Before You Close

Questions to Ask Before Closing on a Property

Before finalizing a purchase, take time to review the property's boundaries, recorded easements, and access arrangements.

Here are some questions worth discussing during your due diligence.

Property boundary questions

• Is there a recorded subdivision plat showing the property's boundaries?
• Is there an existing survey?
• Do the lot dimensions match the property information provided?
• Are the boundary corners or markers identifiable?
• Are there any known encroachments or boundary disputes?

Easement questions

• Are there utility easements affecting the property?
• Does a neighboring property have a recorded access easement?
• Are there road or section-line rights-of-way?
• Are there drainage or pedestrian easements?
• Where are the easements located in relation to the home, driveway, and planned improvements?

Rural property access questions

• Does the property have legally established access?
• Is there an existing road or driveway?
• Can the access route be used year-round?
• Who is responsible for maintaining the road?
• Are approvals needed before making improvements to the access route?

Additional due diligence

• Can the title company explain any recorded easements or exceptions?
• Are there additional documents that should be reviewed before closing?
• Would obtaining a new survey help clarify the property boundaries?
• Should a licensed surveyor or attorney review a specific concern?

09 / When Details Are Unclear

What If the Property Boundaries Are Unclear?

If the property boundaries or easements are unclear, avoid relying on assumptions or informal descriptions.

Start by reviewing the available property records, including:

• Existing property surveys
• Recorded subdivision plats
• Legal descriptions
• Title documents and recorded easement information

Depending on the concern, you may need help from a professional who can interpret or verify the information.

These professionals may include:

• Licensed Alaska land surveyor: Can help identify and verify property boundaries through a professional survey.
• Title company: Can help explain recorded documents, easements, and title exceptions.
• Real estate attorney: Can provide legal guidance when questions involve property rights, access, or boundary disputes.
• Local government or relevant agency: May provide access to available property records or information about applicable rights-of-way.

Remember that a visible feature does not necessarily establish a legal boundary. For example, a fence may not follow the actual property line. When something does not appear to match the recorded information, have it reviewed before making assumptions.

Final Thoughts

Know What You're Buying Before You Close

Understanding lot boundaries and easements is an important part of buying real estate. These details can affect how you use your property, where you can build, and how you access your land.

Before closing, review the recorded plat, legal description, survey information, and title documents. If something is unclear, ask questions and seek professional guidance before moving forward.

Taking the time to understand these details can help you make a more informed decision about the property you're purchasing.