How does a pipeline affect property value?
Andrew Mccoy
Updated on January 17, 2026
Natural gas pipelines don't just raise concerns about the environment and private property rights — they could also affect owners' wallets. Pipelines can reduce property values by 5 to 40 percent by making them less attractive to potential buyers, according to local Realtors.
Do pipelines devalue property?
Like a previous report using the same methods, the report claims that pipelines have no measurable impact on property values of homes of any type, regardless of the age or size of the transmission line.How close is too close to a pipeline?
API recommends setbacks of 50 feet from petroleum and hazardous liquids lines for new homes, businesses, and places of public assembly (API 2003). It also recommends 25 feet for garden sheds, septic tanks, and water wells and 10 feet for mailboxes and yard lights.What are the disadvantages of the pipeline?
Disadvantages of Pipelines:
- It is not flexible, i.e., it can be used only for a few fixed points.
- Its capacity cannot be increased once it is laid. ADVERTISEMENTS:
- It is difficult to make security arrangements for pipelines.
- Underground pipelines cannot be easily repaired and detection of leakage is also difficult.
Should I buy a house with a gas pipeline?
Absolutely no way should you buy residential property with a commercial gas or petroleum pipeline and easement on it. There is nothing but downside associated with that transaction/investment.Pipelines and Property Values
Is it safe to live near a natural gas pipeline?
The answer to the first question is straightforward: There is no limitation on how close gas pipelines can be built to homes. The federal regulations say nothing about any minimum distance away from homes that pipeline installation must occur.How far should you live from a gas pipeline?
API recommends setbacks of 50 feet from petroleum and hazardous liquids lines for new homes, businesses, and places of public assembly (API 2003). It also recommends 25 feet for garden sheds, septic tanks, and water wells and 10 feet for mailboxes and yard lights.Why are pipelines a problem?
Pipelines are bad news for the planet.Several hundreds of miles long and winding their way across North America, these proposed new pipelines would run through countless lakes, rivers, aquifers, and waterways—a spill could irreversibly damage the land and drinking water that communities across the country depend on.