Do you own agricultural lands, woodlands, wetlands, or other special property in Dartmouth which you would like to protect for future generations? If so, there are a number of conservation options that may help you achieve your goals. As a first step, read the information below. Then call DNRT. We can help walk you through some the options and, if appropriate, connect you to others who can help.

Following are brief summaries of some of the primary tools available to landowners. For more information, please contact Dexter at DNRT.

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Donation of a conservation restriction

A conservation restriction (CR), also known as a conservation easement, is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits future development of the land in order to protect its conservation values. A landowner who donates a conservation restriction maintains ownership of the land, but relinquishes development rights. The CR is recorded with the deed and applies to all future landowners.

While most people donate CRs because of their love of the land and their desire to see it protected for future generations, there are also significant tax benefits associated with a CR donation. These tax benefits can include: 1) a Federal income tax deduction; 2) a Massachusetts tax credit, 3) estate tax reductions; and 4) reduced real estate taxes. The value of a conservation restriction gift (for tax purposes) is the difference between the value of the property without the restriction and its value with the restriction.

In general, in order to be tax-deductible, the CR: a) must be given in perpetuity (i.e., must be permanent); b) must be given to a qualified governmental or non-profit organization (like DNRT); c) must have a qualified appraisal (to determine the value of the CR); and d) must be donated exclusively for “conservation purposes” (in other words, the property must have some significant natural, scenic, historic, scientific, recreational, or open space value and the restriction must protect those values).

Federal income tax deduction:  Thanks to a 2015 federal law, the deduction a donor of a CR can take against their federal taxes was raised from a cap to 30% to a cap of 50% of the donor’s adjusted gross income in the year of the gift, and the balance of the deduction can be carried forward for up to 15 additional years.  It further allows qualifying farmers to deduct up to 100% of their income.

Massachusetts Income Tax Credit:  Chapter 509 of the Acts of 2008 established a Massachusetts State Income Tax Credit for landowners who voluntarily donate qualifying conservation land or a CR to a municipality, the state, or a nonprofit conservation organization. Under the initiative, the state has established regulations to determine whether properties proposed for donation meet public interest standards for natural resource protection. If the donation meets the state's criteria, the state will provide 50% of the donation's appraised value, up to $75,000, to the donor in the form of a tax credit. Applications are accepted on a “rolling” basis during the year (there is a limit to the funding the state has available, so the sooner in the year you apply, the better). More information is available on this web site.

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Purchase of development rights / purchase of a conservation restriction

A purchase of development rights program (also know as purchase of a conservation or agricultural restriction program) compensates property owners who voluntarily agree to sell the right to develop their property. These programs are especially beneficial to farmers, because they allow them to realize equity from their land without being forced to sell their farms for development. They also assist farmers with estate planning, allowing for the transfer of ownership of their farms to their children.

In order to stretch funding as much as possible, these programs may ask a landowner to accept less than the full fair market value of the CR. The good news for the landowner is that they can take advantage of the tax benefits of a CR donation for the portion of fair market value that the program does not pay (this situation, where there is a sale portion & a gift portion, is called a “bargain sale”). Sources of funding include:

A) The Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program, administered by the Massachusetts Department Agricultural Resources, protects farmland by purchasing the development rights from willing agricultural landowners. Essentially, the program offers to pay landowners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their farmland in exchange for a permanent deed restriction, which precludes any use of the property that will have a negative impact on its agricultural viability. The APR program is highly competitive and is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of “prime” and “state important” agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use and disposition of their farms. Acceptance of a farm into the APR program is typically supported by a financial contribution from the local municipality. More information on the APR program can be found here.

B) The Town of Dartmouth’s Agricultural Preservation Trust Fund was created for the purpose of preserving existing productive agricultural lands and supporting and revitalizing the agricultural industry of the town. Funds are used: (a) to purchase development rights to preserve the agricultural use of existing agricultural lands; and (b) to exercise the town’s right of first refusal on land enrolled in the state’s agricultural/ horticultural use program (chapter 61A). In 1998, town voters approved $2.75 million for the fund, which is administered by the town’s Agricultural Preservation Trust Fund Council.

C) The Community Preservation Act is statewide enabling legislation that provides local and state funding for open space and recreational land, historic preservation, and community housing. Applications for funding are reviewed by the Dartmouth Community Preservation Committee and voted on at Town Meeting.

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Donation of land

Instead of donating a conservation restriction, landowners may also donate land outright to DNRT. In fact, most of DNRT’s 50+ reserves have been generously donated by landowners. When land is given for conservation purposes, DNRT will keep it in its natural state in perpetuity. Landowners can also receive significant tax benefits, including an income tax deduction for the value of the property, estate tax reductions, and the new Massachusetts state income tax credit.

If a landowner would like to gift the land, but remain on it until their death, they can donate a “remainder interest” to a conservation organization such as DNRT. With a remainder interest donation, a landowner can take an income tax deduction now and reserve the right to live on the property until they die. Upon their death, the ownership of the property transfers to DNRT. To maximize their tax benefits, a landowner could also combine a gift of a conservation restriction to one organization and the gift of a remainder interest to another. Donations of land can also be made by bequest.

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Purchase of Land

In certain cases DNRT—alone or in partnership with the Town of Dartmouth or other partners—will seek to raise funds to purchase critically important conservation land. In these cases, DNRT will often seek a “bargain sale” in which the landowner is paid less than fair market value but can receive tax benefits for the gift portion (the difference between the fair market value and the sale price).

For more information on any of the above options, please call:

Nick Wildman, Executive Director
Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust
318 Chase Road ~ PO Box 70567
Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747
phone: (508) 991-2289
email: nick@dnrt.org