Can you put political signs on an easement?

Submitted by ramsgrl909 t3_y1niyu in vermont

Hey all! I live on property with an easement, I'm the house along the main road and the rest of the folks who use the easement (private road) live behind us and don't have any property touching the main road.

Today I saw a political sign in my front yard. Turns out it was from my neighbor behind me. Are they allowed put signs there? The sign was on my property this time - but if they decide to actually put it on the easement, do I just have to put up with it? Or can I legally remove it?

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Srr013 t1_iryhq06 wrote

The easement is a contract and usually is specific to use of the road for travel, power lines, etc. It’s still your land, so my (non-legal) opinion is no. It’s not as though the easement is available for any use; they likely couldn’t run a business from it or host a party on it.

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chobrien01007 t1_irykm76 wrote

Most likely no. An easement is a right to use a limited part of your property for a specific purpose. The easement holder is restricted to using the property only for the purpose of the easement and no more. Easements are to be construed as narrowly as possibly to permit their intended use. Throw out the sign.

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Traditional_Lab_5468 t1_iryntw4 wrote

The easement would need to allow them that right.

It's still your land. The easement grants them certain rights to that land outlined in the easement, but that's it. If it's not in the easement, it's not a right that's been granted.

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zonitronic t1_irynxn6 wrote

Look at the wording of your deed: If you own the land in fee, and are subject to an easement on / over your land, then the easement's purpose / allowances / restrictions should be specified in your deed... Ingress/egress rights and utility rights do not typically include signage, political or otherwise.

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Norse-Gael-Heathen t1_irywwlm wrote

You can remove it. The easement is for passage, not advertising.

Here's a potential non-combative way out for you (in case your rear neighbor is a dick): A sign posted in an easement could be seen as an obstruction to clear and safe passage, and that's certainly not something you could permit, because it could impact all of the other users, and leave you liable. It is the responsibility of the owner (subservient property) to insure that the easement is not obstructed or restricted in a way that hinders the dominant users (them). If the sign is so far off the road that it couldn't possibly hinder two cars from passing each other, then it is probably no longer even in the easement.

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[deleted] t1_iryg93i wrote

I’d like to know the answer. I have a neighbor who did the same thing with a sign for an ultra conservative candidate I do t support.

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[deleted] t1_iryleog wrote

I'd assume that no they cannot put signs up on an easement. I have one in my neighborhood if I saw a political sign on it I'd take it down

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Thick_Piece t1_iryh34n wrote

Very interesting. I’d find out before a confrontation. If the easement allows, it may escalate.

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Wesley__Willis t1_irytpg3 wrote

Check your deed to see how the easement is described. They’re almost always limited in scope (for example, automobile ingress/egress to a neighbor’s landlocked property) and it’s highly unlikely that that scope includes political signage. Once you verify, pull the sign out and give it back to your neighbor. It is very common for easements to get confused with public land, that’s almost certainly what happened here.

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ThisistheInfiniteIs t1_irywu9e wrote

Additionally, I believe if it is within the highway easement, then it is on state property and not allowed.

If it is a town road, then you have to look up the rules for your town.

Here is a link to the rules for political signage in Vermont.

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Edit: word

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Nutmegdog1959 t1_irytjly wrote

Commercial deeds typically have specific language addressing signage in the easement. Residential, never seen one. If it's not addressed, you got nothing, no rights to a sign.

However, non-permanent signs like real estate signs and political signage are generally treated a bit differently. Typically they're allowed in most municipalities within certain size restrictions, time frames and the consent of both easement grantee and grantor.

Good Luck.

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RoyalIndependence500 t1_is07i9r wrote

As others have said, read the easement language. If it is not specifically stated that signs are allowed, then it is not legal. Depending on the type of easement, there may be specific clauses for allowable and prohibited activities. If it’s only for access, then signs not placed by the property owner are not legal.

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Vermonter623 t1_is899mn wrote

It depends. Who is from Vermont and who isn’t.

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mycopportunity t1_is0coo9 wrote

Do you know anything about the candidate on this sign good or bad? I would start there

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SemperFuu t1_is0gxhh wrote

NIMFYism! 😂 get it? Or is it NIMFEism.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_is09q57 wrote

My personal opinion is don’t discuss politics with neighbors. Put your own signs up but taking down their sign is a dick move.

You really want to start that argument? As others said, the easement is a contract. They have rights as well and nothing like exercising your rights at all hours of the day or night to prove the same point as removing a political sign.

Also, it’s just not neighborly (or Vermonty ) and do you want to start a fight with your neighbors over some political signs.

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yerkah t1_is4cxbi wrote

Their sign is more likely than not illegally placed. What rights are you referring to, because I doubt that the recorded easement has a permitted use involving signage. It's not neighborly or Vermonty to put your political litter on other people's yards. Good on OP for asking before removing it

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_is4v7em wrote

The right to use the easement. And drive in and out with loud music blaring or the engine revving at any time day or night is what I was referring to.

Depending on how petty the guy is, he could generally be annoying as fuck.

If the neighbors starts a fight over a sign, expect retaliation is my general point.

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popquizmf t1_is59n2y wrote

Somehow, and bare with me here, I don't think the person who doesn't own the property is going to have much of a leg to stand on if they go that route.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_is5a59i wrote

You may be surprised. You man not. Having seen this (not with political signs) argument before people and be shitty.

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yerkah t1_is6gdh6 wrote

>The right to use the easement. And drive in and out with loud music blaring or the engine revving at any time day or night is what I was referring to.

You could be right if this is a very strange easement that includes a proscribed right to place signage, in addition to a right-of-way. I highly doubt it. That said, easements do not give you a right to cause a nuisance with noise or litter. Putting aside common law nuisance, most Vermont municipalities have noise ordinances. If the neighbor retaliated in that way, they would be the only asshole in the situation, and could open themselves up to a civil stalking order.

All OP needs to do is return the sign and be friendly.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_isbbobx wrote

Where do you live where you have noise ordinance enforced. Anywhere outside a few places it is ignored.

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Outrageous-Outside61 t1_is0but9 wrote

Why start a fight. Vote how you want and let them do the same. I hate political signs with a passion but I wouldn’t go starting an argument over it

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ramsgrl909 OP t1_is0gqgl wrote

Don't want a fight, just want to stay neutral. I moved from MA where people would yell and scream at each other over a sign in their yard

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Outrageous-Outside61 t1_is0ihah wrote

Sounds like you’re trying to turn VT into MA. If you wanted to argue with your neighbor over politics and signs you should have stayed there.

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yerkah t1_is4cipf wrote

OP isn't trying to start a political fight, did you not read this post or comments? Or are you just projecting because OP is from out-of-state, and you clearly have a negative bias about that fact? Political signs are just a hideous eyesore, party or politician aside.

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deadowl t1_irytqw4 wrote

Put up signs for who you support maybe? I don't think it'd be productive to take down signs in this scenario.

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VoyageursWitch t1_irz6r7a wrote

It's his property, it might not be productive but it's pretty disgusting to put your signs on other peoples property.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_is09xdk wrote

Yeah, lots of people here don’t seem to understand the potential ramifications of starting a fight with a neighbor you share a driveway with. Not sure where the “get off my lawn” mentality comes from but starting a fight over some sign will doubtfuly end well for anyone.

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Intelligent-Hunt7557 t1_is0x5jv wrote

Says some guy who responds to a thread about ‘best places to raise a family’ by telling us which ones suck in his (narrow) view? Yeah, really solid advice you could use yourself.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_is0y5yi wrote

Who are you? What are you talking about?

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Intelligent-Hunt7557 t1_is15a8k wrote

I’m the rando who is apparently barbecuing your hypocrisy. ‘Pick your battles’ says you, says the guy ‘starting fights with neighbors’ 3 days ago. Do you even remember? Is it a postarrhea sitch?

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_is1920j wrote

You are funny. What are you doing? Barbecuing hypocrisy? Please provide a link. I don't remwmber what I post too much. This place is a joke so I don't pay too much attention. Anyway, yeah, a link to the barbecuing would help a lot.

I seem to have upset you which I apologize for. Could have been my intention as trolling Reddit is one of my hobbies but I never meant to take up so much space in your head. You sound like you need some other hobbies or something.

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