About Our Preservation Easement Program

Easements play an essential role in Preservation Utah's work to preserve historic structures. A preservation easement is a legal agreement that gives the easement holder a responsibility to protect the visual and structural integrity of a particular historic structure, even though that structure is owned by another person. Preservation Utah holds easements on over 100 different properties throughout Utah.

Many people believe that if a building is recognized as historic, it is automatically protected from destruction. In reality, listing a building on the National Register of Historic Places does not prevent the owner from demolishing it. While local preservation ordinances may provide a measure of protection for historic properties, they often only provide for a delay in the demolition process. An easement, on the other hand, legally insures the preservation of a historic property in perpetuity.

With easement properties, the owner retains all the usual private property rights except for the right to destroy the property. Alterations, improvements, and additions are allowed, as long as they do not compromise the structure's historic character. Preservation Utah works with the owner of a property on which we hold an easement, not only to preserve the historic character of their building, but also to make it a comfortable and desirable place in which to live or work.