Property Ownership

Texas law recognizes 'prescriptive rights' for utility easements when utilities have been openly using a strip of land for:

A10 years under a written utility easement
BThe statutory prescriptive period (typically 10 years) of continuous, adverse, open use✓ Correct
CAny period as long as the utility is registered with PUCT
D25 years under continuous use

Explanation

Even without a formal written easement, utilities that have continuously and openly used a strip of land for utility purposes for the prescriptive period may acquire a prescriptive easement. This can affect property sales if undisclosed utility lines are present. A survey and title search help identify such issues.

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