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When you think of the laws surrounding property ownership, you might immediately consider the more common ones, like mortgage payments and property taxes. However, numerous other laws could apply to you, and understanding them is crucial. This knowledge empowers you to navigate your property rights with confidence and control as a homeowner or potential buyer.

These rules aren’t arbitrary regulations enforced by your local HOA (it’s worth noting that not all HOA bylaws are legally enforceable). They are actual laws set out by local or state governments. These laws are designed to keep everyone safe and ensure that homeowners fulfill their responsibilities when owning land or property.

So, what laws might you need to know you didn’t realize were in place?

Tree Trimming Laws

Different states have different regulations regarding Tree Trimming and removal, and knowing your legal obligations is vital if you have a tree or trees on your property. For example, the tree’s owner is whoever owns the land the trunk is on. However, if branches overhang a neighbor’s property, they do not have rights regarding trimming. There are also laws around trees by power lines, planting new trees, and boundary line queries. But for ongoing maintenance, it’s important you at least know tree trimming laws so you can make more informed decisions about the care of your tree so you and avoid any legal complications down the line.

Business Laws

With more and more people generating side hustles and working from home, knowing the law is essential so you don’t unintentionally flout any or lose everything you’ve worked so hard for. While you have the right to control what happens in your home and on your land, you won’t always have permission to operate a business from the property. You can hold meetings, for example, but you might not be able to run a home business without gaining permission. So before setting up that Etsy shop selling homemade wares, check your local state laws for home-based companies to ensure you operate legally.

Easements

Easements can be tricky to understand, but they are legally binding if one is in a palace. For example, easements are usually granted to public utility companies, but they can be given to anyone for access, and if they are legally recorded on deeds, you must abide by them. Let’s say the previous owner granted the neighbor access to their property by adding a pathway or a driveway. If this has been recorded on the deeds, you cannot change this when you buy the property, and you must continue to allow the neighbor access.

Quiet Enjoyment Law

So this doesn’t mean that anyone you perceive to be violating your enjoyment is breaking the law, but the quiet enjoyment law protects you form others infringing your enjoyment in specific ways. For example, if your neighbor is spraying pesticides on their property that impact your trees or plants, you have the right to insist they stop causing damage and change their actions. You do have the right to insist that local companies don’t pollute waterways, etc. But it doesn’t cover stopping your neighbors from legally enjoying their own homes. However, local ordinances are likely in place to restrict certain noisy activities at antisocial times for everyone’s benefit.