Page 15 - Talk of Tequesta - February '25
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The Talk Of Tequesta, Page 15



                                                              norThern noTes




                                           Easements On Your Property



                                   By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District


        If you own property in Florida, you may come across   purpose. It does not grant ownership of the property; rather,     Once both parties agree
      the term “easement.” An easement can influence how   it allows the user to utilize the property without the risk   to the terms of an easement,
      you use your property, and the rights associated with it.   of being charged with trespassing. For instance, a water   it is recorded with the Palm
      These legal agreements are often present in areas where   management maintenance easement may exist between two   Beach County Clerk of the
      the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District   homes, designating an area where the easement holder can   Court.  This ensures that
      has facilities and maintenance responsibilities. Easements   travel to access something on the other side. Another example   any future owners of the
      are essential for allowing the district to access locations   is a flowage easement, which allows water to flow from one   property are aware of the
      where it does not have ownership rights, particularly near   location through a body of water owned by someone else.   easement’s existence. If the
      its facilities, preserves, or waterways.          A common easement in this context is a water management   property is sold later, the
        An easement is a legal arrangement that permits another   easement, usually covering areas where pipes, used for   easement will be noted in
      party to use a specified portion of property for a particular   stormwater management, may be buried.  the title search and property
                                                                                                           survey to document the
                                                                                                           easement area.



         REDEFINING




          WORLD CLASS





         HEART CARE










                                                                                                             A water management maintenance easement typically
                                                                                                           grants the easement owner the rights of ingress and egress,
                                                                                                           allowing access to the property for maintenance of water
                                                                                                           management tracts or preserves located on the other
                                                                                                           side. The easement also allows the agency’s agents and
                                                                                                           contractors to pass through the property, with or without
                                                                                                           equipment and vehicles.
                                                                                                             As  the  property  owner,  you  are  responsible  for
                                                                                                           maintaining the easement area and keeping it free from
                                                                                                           plants, trees, fences, and structures, unless specifically
                                                                                                           permitted through the official permitting process. You
                                                                                                           cannot block access to the easement. If a permitted fence
                                                                                                           with gates exists within the easement, access should not
                                                                                                           be hindered by dogs or security systems. The owner
                                                                                                           and their contractors have the right to pass through the
                                                                                                           property safely and without harassment. Additionally,
                                                                                                           trees planted in water management easements can
                                                                                                           grow into and damage pipes and structures, potentially
                                                                                                           impacting stormwater management or causing sinkholes
                                                                                                           from collapsed pipes.
                                                                                                             It’s  important  to  understand  the  significance  of
                                                                                                           easements on your property and to keep these areas clear
                                                                                                           of personal belongings. Easements provide necessary
                                                                                                           access for district employees and contractors to legally
                                                                                                           enter properties located on the other side. Without this
                                                                                                           access, maintenance of preserves and stormwater facilities
                                                                                                           becomes impossible, which could put the district in
                                                                                                           violation of regulations with the South Florida Water
                                                                                                           Management District. In some cases, this lack of access
                                                                                                           may even result in improper functioning of these systems.
                                                                                                             For more information, please visit our website at
                                                                                                           www.npbcid.org, where you can view facility maps that
                                                                                                           display the locations of easements. Additionally, the site
                                                                                                           includes a link to our geographical information system
                                                                                                           (GIS), which presents property information and district
                                                                                                           facilities in an interactive map format.
                                                                                                             NPDES tip: Dirt, oil, and debris that collect in parking
                                                                                                           lots and paved areas can be washed into the storm sewer
                                                                                                           system and eventually enter local waterbodies. Sweep up
                                                                                                           litter and debris from sidewalks, driveways and parking
                                                                                                           lots, especially around storm drains.
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          is always the first step to overcoming. For every heart
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          heart care at Cleveland Clinic in Broward and Palm
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          Visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Heart to learn more.      For Every Care in the World
                                                                                                                     Monday, February 17
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