What does land locked mean for property?

Answer 1

real estate that is "land-locked" has no "frontage" on a public way (street, highway), so it can only be reached by crossing land owned by someone else. In many cases there is an "easement" presumed across the land from which the land-locked parcel was subdivided.

In some sense, beach-front property with no roadway access is also "land-locked" as it cannot be accessed from public roadways, although it may be reached by water. Many such beach-front lots have deeded easements allowing abutting owners to use trails or private roadways to access their respective properties without going into the water.

Under laws of some states, the land-locked owner can request an easement to the property for purpose of such things as removing timber. The town may grant such a request, on behalf of the intervening owners, and assess "damages" for the type of access granted. The damages then serve as a sort of "license fee" paid to the neighbors for the privilege of crossing their land with a temporary roadway.

Real estate that is land-locked may be assessed for tax purposes at a much lower rate than other lots that are more readily accessible for construction, utilities, and emergency services.