Can I build a shed or fence inside a utility easement?

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Easements and rights of way0 answersAI answer

There is a 10-foot utility easement along my back line. I want a shed and a fence back there.

Asked October 25, 2026

AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor

Usually not a permanent building. A fence is sometimes allowed, but at your own risk.

  • Easement wording matters. The recorded easement document says what the utility may do and what you may not.
  • Sheds and other structures are commonly prohibited, because they block access to the lines.
  • Fences are often allowed if there's a gate for access. But the utility may remove them during repairs and may not have to put them back.
  • Local rules (zoning, HOA covenants) can add limits.

Before building:

  1. Get a copy of the easement from the county recorder or your title report [1].
  2. Call the utility named in it and ask what they allow.
  3. Have a surveyor show the easement lines on your survey, so you place things correctly.

Put the shed outside the easement whenever you can.

General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.

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