3 Types of Easements

Posted: October 23, 2017

Easements are successful preservation tools that help protect a historic property by safeguarding its historic character, materials, and significance. A legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and HCF, a preservation easement establishes perpetual protection for the property. HCF offers exterior easements, interior easements and open space easements.

Exterior Easements

As required by the IRS, exterior easements protect the entire parcel, even portions of the property are not visible from the street.  In addition, exterior easements contain archaeological provisions to prevent important archaeological artifacts from being lost during construction, use restrictions, restrictions against inappropriate subdivision, tree protection provisions, insurance requirements, as well as specific provisions that pertain to the particular property. 

Example: 64 S Battery 

Interior Easements

Interior easements are the only mechanism to protect our city’s historic interiors. These easements usually cover the primary rooms of a house with high historic integrity.  They do not typically protect kitchens or bathrooms.

Example: 59 Church Street

Open Space Easements

HCF’s open space easements are generally found on double lots to prevent the loss of historically significant open spaces and garden spaces.

Example: Mulberry Plantation