Preserve My Land
Steps for Donating a Conservation Easement
Following these steps, landowners restrict future uses of their property to activities that promote open space, a healthy environment and rural economies. Northern Neck Land Conservancy staff are available to support landowners at any point in the process, by phone or in person.
Submit an Application Form and Letter of Intent. Staff are available to assist with this task.
Plan a site visit. Land Conservancy staff will visit the property with the landowner to assess the conservation values and landowner’s view of the future of the property.
The Land Conservancy’s Land Preservation Committee evaluates the easement proposal package. Board members confirm public benefit, conservation value, compliance with government regulation, and the Land Conservancy’s own capacity to permanently protect the property.
Contact attorney. Your attorney drafts the easement agreement using the Northern Neck Land Conservancy’s template, provides a title opinion, seeks county land use approval, and records the finalized Deed of Easement in the county courthouse land records office. *Note that the Land Conservancy requires title insurance for the value of the easement.
Contact appraiser. Donors seeking tax credits must engage a qualified appraiser to determine the value of the gift.
Contact your accountant/financial advisor. Learn how the benefits of an easement donation relate to your personal financial circumstances and goals. File IRS Form 8283 and Supplemental Statement, signed by the appraiser and the Land Conservancy’s Executive Director, as well as the final appraisal before claiming tax credits. The Land Conservancy does not administer Land Preservation Tax Credits. This is done by Virginia Departments of Conservation and Taxation. You may contact a tax credit broker to assist you with the sale of the credits.
Review Deed of Easement. The Land Conservancy’s counsel reviews the landowner’s draft Deed of Easement.
Baseline Documentation Report. Land Conservancy staff work with the landowner to prepare a document that is a comprehensive record of a property's condition, natural resources, and manmade features at the time a conservation easement is executed.
Land Conservancy Board approves the final easement package. The landowner and Land Conservancy sign the Baseline Documentation Report and the final Deed of Easement. The Deed of Easement is recorded in the county courthouse.
Stewardship Pledge: A tax-deductible payment is made to Northern Neck Land Conservancy. Conservation easement donors support the perpetual protection of their property with this pledged gift to the Land Conservancy.
Northern Neck Land Conservancy Provides Perpetual Easement Monitoring and Defense
Annual Property Inspection. Each year Land Conservancy Staff conduct a site visit to monitor the property and document its current condition or any changes that have taken place. Landowners are notified before the visits and are welcome to join during the inspection.
Land Conservancy Staff and Board Members work with easement landowners to ensure that the rights and restrictions in the deed are followed. Certain activities may require review and approval from the Land Conservancy.