What is a conservation easement?
  • A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement entered into voluntarily and mutually between a landowner and Utah Open Lands, protecting the land from some or all future development in perpetuity. Utah law provides landowners with a choice of easements coinciding with the conservation resources in need of protection on the property. The forms of conservation easements include: agricultural, historical, ecological, public recreational, or scenic. A conservation easement may protect one or all of the aforementioned values. A conservation easement may be purchased by a conservation organization at its full fair market value, purchased at a fraction of its fair market value, or donated by the landowner to a qualifying conservation organization. Landowners retain their landowning rights as well as many others, including right to use and sell the land. The easement will only retain the rights necessary to protecting certain conservation values, while potentially providing the landowners with tax incentives.

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1. Why Should I Preserve my Land as Open Space?
2. What Type of Land and Properties Qualify/What Type of Land and Properties Can be Preserved Under the Wasatch County Open Space Bond?
3. What Does it Cost to Preserve my Land/Do I Have to Donate my Land?
4. How Do I Learn More About Preserving my Land/Property?
5. What is a conservation easement?
6. Will the County or another entity condemn my land?
7. Do I still own the land?
8. Will my land now be open to the public?
9. Can I sell my land?
10. What happens if I stop farming?
11. Why should a farmer keep his land?