What if the land has no legal access to a road?

Avoid it unless access is fixed in writing first. Texas does not give an automatic right to cross a neighbor's land, and property can truly be landlocked. An easement by necessity can sometimes be won in court, but the owner must prove the two tracts were once under common ownership, that access was strictly necessary rather than convenient, and that the necessity existed when the tracts were split. A prescriptive easement requires more than 10 years of open, adverse, continuous and exclusive use. These claims are hard to prove. Before buying, require a recorded, written access easement and confirm it on the survey and title commitment.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• Case Offers Reminder: Property Can Be Landlocked in TexasTexas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Agriculture Law
• New Resource Available: Landlocked Property Law in Texas Fact SheetTexas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Agriculture Law