The Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) co-hold easements on several properties in Vermont. For more information, contact the VHCB (address listed below) or link to the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

This information is from: Taking Care of Your Old Barn Ten Tips for Preserving and Reusing Vermont's Historic Agricultural Buildings. Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Montpelier, Vermont. 1995.

An easement is a means property owners can employ to ensure that a historic barn [building] is protected and maintained forever. It is a legally recognized agreement between an owner and an organization eligible to hold and enforce such an agreement. It gives a less-than fee simple interest in a property to the organization. The property remains in private hands, and the organization ensures that the building is protected no matter who owns the property.

To create an easement, the building is documented with photos and in writing to identify what important features will be protected. This documentation is incorporated by reference in the contract between the owner and the organization that is recorded with the Town Clerk. The easement then requires that all current and future owners abide by the terms requiring protection and maintenance of the important historic features of the building.

The value of an easement may be considered a charitable donation if it is given to a non-profit organization. The value of the donation is the value of the property without an easement minus the value of it with the easement (which depends on a wide variety of circumstances for individual properties). The donation of an easement may also reduce estate and local real property taxes.

The Preservation Trust of Vermont is one organization eligible to hold historic preservation easements in Vermont. For more information on easements and how they might work for your building contact the Trust. (Preservation Trust of Vermont, Windsor House, PO Box 1777, Windsor, VT 05089; Paul Bruhn, Executive Director, 104 Church St., Burlington, VT 05401, (802)658-6647.)

Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

136 1/2 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602. (802)828-3250. State-created independent authority that administers public funds for land conservation and affordable housing.

• Makes loans and grants to non-profit organizations, municipalities, and state agencies for the purchase of development rights on farmland and the acquisition and preservation of significant historic, archeological, natural and recreational sites.

Makes matching loans and grants for acquisition of locally important historic properties.

© 1995 Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. All rights reserved.

For more information on preservation easements, go to Rural Preservation in Vermont or Vermont Land Trust

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The Vermont Heritage Network
The University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program
Wheeler House, University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
(802)656-3180
http://www.uvm.edu/~vhnet
E-mail To: vhnet@zoo.uvm.edu