The short version
- Landlocked means a parcel has no direct legal access to a public road.
- New Jersey may recognize an easement by necessity, but only where the parcels were once under common ownership and a later split left one landlocked.
- Easements normally have to be in writing; access rights strongly affect what land is worth.
- We buy landlocked parcels and factor the access question into a fair offer.
What does landlocked mean for my land?
A landlocked parcel has no road frontage and no recorded easement giving it a legal way in and out. You may have used a path or a neighbor's drive for years, but without a legal right that access is not guaranteed. Because access drives value and buildability, landlocked lots are hard to sell on the open market.
Can a landlocked parcel get legal access?
Sometimes. New Jersey recognizes an easement by necessity when two parcels were once owned together and a later sale or split cut one off from the road. The owner of the landlocked piece may then have a right to cross the other land to reach a public road. There are also easements created by written agreement with a neighbor. Whether either applies to your parcel depends on its history, which is part of what we research.
Do I need to solve the access problem before selling?
No. You do not need to chase down an easement or hire anyone first. We look at the chain of title and the surrounding parcels ourselves, factor the access situation into our offer, and buy the land as it is. Solving access is our problem after closing, not yours.
Sources & related
- NJ easement by necessity - New Jersey easement law overviews (2026).
- Wetlands and unbuildable land · Pinelands-restricted land
- Selling land in New Jersey: the complete guide