Access is the means that enable a person to enter a piece of land or property. There are several examples of access, and the most common form is the streets, roads and sidewalks that make up a neighborhood’s infrastructure. Usually, homes have public access, but some types of property are encumbered to allow an adjacent owner access. As an example of an encumbrance that provides access, consider a large real estate tract that is located in the middle of nowhere. No paved road serves the acreage, and owners must gain access through an adjacent piece of land. To ensure access, the neighboring property may have an encumbrance that is provided for in a deed or other legal document. Access comes in a number of different forms, but it usually consists of a paved, dirt or gravel road that gives owners and visitors a way to enter a piece of real estate.
