Easements
A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that protects a significant historic, archaeological, or cultural resource. An easement provides assurance to the owner of a historic or cultural property that the property's intrinsic values will be preserved through subsequent ownership. In addition, the owner may obtain substantial tax benefits. An entire historic structure or just the facade or interior may qualify.
Historic Preservation Easements also are used to protect a historic landscape, battlefield, traditional cultural place, or archaeological site. Under the terms of an easement, a property owner grants a portion of, or interest in, his/her property rights to an organization whose mission includes historic preservation. Once recorded, an easement becomes part of the property's chain of title and usually "runs with the land" in perpetuity, thus binding not only the owner who grants the easement but all future owners as well. In Washington, several organizations will accept preservation easements. For further information contact the following:
Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation
P.O. Box 48343 Olympia, WA 98504-8343 phone: (360) 586-3065
Geographic Area: Statewide
Easement type(s): Façade and Historic Building
Easements only granted in perpetuity; no fee requested; currently 43 easements across the state.
Since: 1981
Jefferson Land Trust
P.O. Box 1610
Port Townsend, WA 98368
phone:(360) 379-9501
fax:(360) 379-9501
saveland@olympus.net
www.olympus.net/saveland
Geographic Area: Eastern Jefferson County
Easement type(s): Archeological Site, Historic Building, Historic Garden, Landscape, Scenic View, Agricultural and Open Space; Easements only granted in perpetuity; fee requested
Since: 1986
The San Juan Preservation Trust
Box 327
Lopez Island, WA 98261-0327
phone: (360) 468-3202
fax: (360) 468-3509
sjptrust@rockisland.com
Geographic Area: San Juan Islands; San Juan, Skagit & Whatcom counties.
Easement type(s): Archeological Site, Historic Building, Façade, Historic Garden, Landscape, Scenic View, Natural Areas, Productive Forest and Agricultural Land Easements only granted in perpetuity; fee requested
Since: 1979
Spokane City/County Historic Preservation Office
808 West Spokane Falls Boulevard
City Hall
Spokane, WA 99201
phone: (509) 625-6983
fax: (509) 625-6059
mduvall@spokanecity.org
Geographic Area: Spokane County
Easement type(s): Façade Easements only granted in perpetuity; no fee requested
Since: 1981
Historic Seattle
1117 Minor Ave.,
Seattle, WA 98101
phone: (202) 662-6952
jeffm@historicseattle.org
Geographic Area: King County
Easement type(s): Façade Easements only granted in perpetuity
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
1204 Minor Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
phone: (202) 624-9449
Geographic Area: Statewide
Easement type(s): Easements granted in perpetuity
