Conservation Easement Fees & Donation Process...

The Historic Preservation League of Oregon (HPLO) treats every conservation easement as a unique opportunity to preserve our heritage and each easement is negotiated individually.

Because it takes substantial resources to process a new easement and manage it in perpetuity, we have adopted the following fee structure:

Conservation Easement Fees – Residential Properties

Application Fee: $150.00 (non-refundable)

Easement Processing Fee: .25% (quarter of 1 percent) of appraised market value (building & land) or $1000, whichever is greater; paid upon acceptance of the easement by the HPLO

Fees for commercial properties vary, please contact the HPLO.

Should fees create a hardship for the grantor, aid may be available.

Cash Donation to the Stewardship Fund

The HPLO considers the management of our conservation easements as a principle responsibility – one that requires concerted resources and a long term view. To fund the ongoing costs of monitoring, inspecting, enforcing, and administering our easements in perpetuity, the HPLO has established a restricted Stewardship Fund. Grantors of conservation easements are invited to contribute to this fund at the time of settlement. A suggested donation is 2% of the appraised value of the property.

Rogers House

Rogers House protected by a Conservation Easement

Donation Process

  1. Complete the Conservation Easement Application form, including photographs to document the property and its historic elements.
  2. Schedule a meeting with an HPLO representative to tour and inspect the property, and discuss the specifics of what elements will be protected.
  3. If the owner plans to take the IRS income tax deduction for the value of the easement, a qualified appraiser is engaged to establish the easement’s value.
  4. The application is reviewed by the HPLO Easement Committee. Upon acceptance into the HPLO easement program a legal contract is drawn. The HPLO provides a standard contract which is customized to reflect the donor’s wishes. It is recommended that donors engage legal council to represent them in this step of the process.
  5. When the contract is signed and the processing fee received, it is recorded with the county.

If you have questions about any aspect of the Conservation Easement Program or to request an Easement Packet, please email our Executive Director.