source:
  type: guide
  id: va-m26-7-ch12-t04
  authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 4 — Access
  description: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 4 — Access.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: va-m26-7-ch12-t04-full
  canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch12-t04-full
  section: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 4 — Access
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - va
  - va-handbook
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 12, Topic 4 — Access
    source_class: va-handbook
    source_url: https://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/pam26_7.asp
    snapshot_id: 824171a914866a59
    fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:53:53Z'
    content_hash: sha256:71efd8bb39bb5596ad194f1b13e6f979cfa1afbf5566e897e26836fc1ab0429e
    paragraph_quote: '4. Access Change Date March 28, 2019 • This chapter has been
      revised in its entirety. a. Street Access Each property must be provided with
      a safe and adequate pedestrian or vehicular access from a public or private
      street with an all-weather surface. b. Private Road Requirements Private roads
      must be: • protected by a permanent easement, and • maintained by a homeowners
      association or joint maintenance agreement. c. Maintenance Agreement Signatures
      If a maintenance agreement does not exist, every effort should be made to obtain
      the agreement of all owners of properties on the private road to share the cost
      of maintaining the road. d. RLC Approval Required if the Veteran is Accepting
      Additional Responsibility In the absence of an agreement signed by all owners,
      particularly those of properties located between the subject property and the
      public road, an agreement by a Veteran to accept responsibility for a disproportionate
      share of the road must be reasonable in regards to the distance from the subject
      property to the public road. The RLC of jurisdiction must be contacted in order
      to approve the agreement. VA will not accept an agreement in which the Veteran
      accepts sole responsibility for maintaining an unreasonable distance of the
      private road as this could create a burden for the Veteran as well as future
      property owners. e. Private Street in PUD or Condominium If private street maintenance
      is covered in the organizational documents for a planned unit development (PUD)
      or condominium, or by state law, the NOV may be issued without a requirement
      for further documentation. f. Easements Must Run with the Land Each living unit
      must be accessible without passing through any other living unit or trespassing
      on adjoining properties. Any easements required must run with the land. Continued
      on next page VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised Chapter 12: Minimum Property Requirements
      12-8 4. Access, continued g. Backyard Access Access to the backyard must be
      provided without passing through any other living unit. For a row-type dwelling,
      the access may be by means of • an alley, • easement, or • passing through the
      subject dwelling. h. Exterior Wall Access Adequate space to perform maintenance
      of the exterior walls must be present between buildings. i. Property Constructed
      Adjacent to Another Property Line A building constructed on or next to a property
      line must be separated from the adjoining building by a wall extending the full
      height of the building from the foundation to the ridge of the roof. VA Pamphlet
      26-7, Revised Chapter 12: Minimum Property Requirements 12-9'
  judgment: false
