Landlocked Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Landlocked, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Landlocked?

(adj) A landlocked property is the landed property which do not have direct access to a public road by which one can reach the property without crossing another’s property. A landlocked property is eligible for an easement right in the property from which it was derived where by it can access the public street.

History and Meaning of Landlocked

The term "landlocked" refers to a property that does not have direct access to a public road or waterway. It is often used in real estate and property law contexts to describe properties that are surrounded by other property or by natural barriers like mountains or lakes. In order to access a landlocked property, one must cross over another's property or obtain an easement or right-of-way.

This term has been used for centuries and is especially relevant in countries without a coastline, where many properties may be landlocked. Historically, owning a landlocked property could be a significant disadvantage since it would limit one's ability to transport goods, receive deliveries, or access emergency services. Today, however, easement laws and modern transportation options have helped mitigate many of the challenges associated with owning a landlocked property.

Examples of Landlocked

  1. Jane owns a 10-acre parcel of land that is entirely surrounded by her neighbor's property. Since she has no direct access to a public road, she must ask her neighbor for permission to cross over their land to reach her own.

  2. Tom purchases a parcel of land that is situated behind a larger property owned by a local business. Since there is no road or driveway leading to his property, he must obtain an easement from the business in order to access it.

  3. The government is looking to purchase a piece of land for a new park, but the only available parcel is landlocked and has no direct access to a public road. In order to make the land usable, the government must negotiate with neighboring property owners to obtain an easement or right-of-way.

Legal Terms Similar to Landlocked

  1. Easement: A legal right to use another person's property for a specific purpose, such as accessing a landlocked property.
  2. Right-of-way: A legal right to pass over another's property, typically in order to access one's own property.
  3. Servient estate: A property that is subject to an easement or right-of-way in favor of another property, which means that the owner of the servient estate must allow access to the owner of the dominant estate for a specific purpose.