Conservation easements and preservation programs
A conservation easement is a recorded agreement that limits how a property can be used in order to protect its agricultural or habitat value. It stays with the land when it sells.
Easements are usually held by a land trust or public agency and are typically permanent. They can allow continued farming or grazing while limiting development, subdivision or conversion. Some sellers receive compensation for placing an easement; some buyers buy land that already has one, often at a price that reflects the restrictions.
In our own work: the Highway 20 ranch in Colusa County was encumbered by an easement held by California Rangeland Trust that allowed one 10-acre building area. The Chamberlain Road property north of Lincoln preserved 355 acres of dryland pasture, irrigated pasture and a riparian corridor in perpetuity while excluding two homesites. Road 106 near Davis was three parcels totaling 437 acres under an Agricultural Conservation Easement. Our current Jenny Farms listing is under an easement on about 406 acres; according to the listing it allows the current irrigated pasture use and may warrant more intensive farming uses, which a buyer would need to investigate.
If you own land and are considering an easement, or you are weighing a property that has one, we can value the property before and after, and put the recorded document in front of you early. John Brennan has worked with conservation organizations in the Sacramento Valley for years, and Markus Hackett appraises conservation easements.
General information only. Get legal and tax advice on any easement transaction.