easements

[Horst]

I live in California USA, on a private road. Both my neighbor and I (he only has a lot no home yet) had to give the county 25 ft of property along the entire road way. About 200 feet long. This was for a public rite of way. This is a gravel road that we must maintain and it dead ends at our property. At first I had lots problems with litter, people stealing trees for firewood, kids partying etc. In 1996 I put up a heavy steel gate and kept it locked for the first three years, then the county said it must stay unlocked. It has been over 5 years sice I put up the gate. I pay the taxes on the property and have used this gate monthly or more. Do I have a valid precriptive easement? I want to keep this gate locked again. Only my neighbor and I would have keys.
Thanks Horst

 

[HomeGuru]

I live in California USA, on a private road. Both my neighbor and I (he only has a lot no home yet) had to give the county 25 ft of property along the entire road way. About 200 feet long. This was for a public rite of way. This is a gravel road that we must maintain and it dead ends at our property. At first I had lots problems with litter, people stealing trees for firewood, kids partying etc. In 1996 I put up a heavy steel gate and kept it locked for the first three years, then the county said it must stay unlocked. It has been over 5 years sice I put up the gate. I pay the taxes on the property and have used this gate monthly or more. Do I have a valid precriptive easement? I want to keep this gate locked again. Only my neighbor and I would have keys.
Thanks Horst

My response: easement to what? If you are talking an easment on County property, no.