Can I plant trees in a utility easement?
Usually no. Most utility easements prohibit trees and large shrubs because they interfere with power lines and underground facilities.
Utility easements typically include vegetation clauses that allow the easement holder to trim or remove trees, shrubs, and other plants inside the corridor. This is especially strict for overhead electric lines and underground gas or fiber lines.
Some easements allow low-growing ground cover or grasses, but anything with deep roots or significant height is usually prohibited. If you plant a prohibited tree, the utility may remove it without compensating you.
Always read the recorded easement or call the utility before planting. A quick records check can save you the cost and disappointment of losing mature landscaping.
What to look for
- The vegetation clause in the recorded easement.
- Whether the easement covers overhead lines, underground lines, or both.
- Any approved list of low-growing plants.
- The utility's right to remove unapproved vegetation without notice.
Related terms
General educational reference only. Prescription periods and their exceptions change, and several states set the period by case law rather than by statute. Read the linked official code and consult a licensed attorney in that state before relying on any of it.
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