Lines that shape our community

Have you ever noticed the straight dirt roads that sometimes cut right through the middle of nowhere? Maybe you’ve wondered why power lines can cross private property to someone else’s land? It’s part of a complex system of section lines, easements, utilities, and rights of way that affects every property owner. Understanding these concepts can help you protect your property rights and know what you can and cannot do with your land.

Let’s start with section lines, which are unique to Alaska and a few other western states. When surveyors originally mapped Alaska, they divided the land into squares called sections, each measuring one mile by one mile. The imaginary lines between these sections are called section lines. In Alaska, these section lines are supposed to remain accessible to the public, creating a grid of routes that people can use for travel. This means that even if a section line crosses private property, the public generally has a right to use it.

An easement is a legal right that allows someone to use another person’s land for a specific purpose. Think of it as permission written into your property deed. The most common is a utility easement, which lets utility companies run their lines and pipes across a property. When you buy land, these easements come with it, and you cannot remove them. You still own the land, but you must allow access for maintenance and repairs. Other easements might give your neighbor the right to cross your property to reach their landlocked parcel, or they might protect a traditional trail that people have used for generations.

Rights of way (it is not “right of ways”) are like easements but are strips of land reserved for transportation. Roads are the most obvious example. When the government builds a public road, it needs a right of way for the land the road sits on plus extra space on either side. Rights of way vary in width depending on whether it’s a highway, residential street, rural road, or trail. Property owners cannot build permanent structures in a right of way, and they must guarantee access at any time.

Important note: Not all easements grant public access. Public rights of way, dedicated road easements, and section lines typically allow for public access for travel. Trail easements specifically designated for public use also allow community members to pass through. However, utility easements for power lines, phone lines, water pipes, sewer lines, and gas lines are private easements that grant access only to the utility companies and their contractors. The public cannot legally walk, drive, or recreate on utility easements.

Private access easements that allow one neighbor to reach their landlocked property do not allow others to use that route. Respecting these boundaries protects both property owners’ privacy rights and keeps you from accidentally trespassing. As a traveler, if someone blocks a legal section line or right of way, you can report it to authorities.

The protections property owners have depend on what type of access crosses your land. For utility easements, companies must give you notice before entering your property for maintenance, except in emergencies. For section lines and public rights of way, your protection mainly comes from making sure people stay within the legal boundaries and don’t damage your property.

Finding information about these features on your property starts with your deed and title report, which should list all easements. The Mat-Su Borough Platting and Land Use Department maintains plat maps showing section lines and dedicated rights of way. You can visit their office in Palmer or check their website. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources also has information about section lines and public access. For specific legal questions, the borough planning department can guide you, though complicated situations might require consulting with a real estate attorney.

Understanding these invisible lines and legal rights helps you make better decisions about your property. Before building that new garage or planting those trees, check your plat and title documents. Knowing what crosses your land and who has legal access protects you from costly mistakes and helps maintain the access routes that keep our community connected.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.