What is Encroachment?
An encroachment is when a structure or improvement crosses onto a neighboring property or beyond a legal boundary, such as a fence, shed, or roofline built over the line. It can cloud title and complicate a sale until the parties resolve it. A survey is the usual way to detect and measure an encroachment.
Example: A survey reveals the seller's driveway extends two feet onto the neighbor's lot, an encroachment the parties resolve with a recorded easement before closing.