Strong, well-crafted conservation easements are essential for protecting land in perpetuity. This collection of model easements provides land trusts with a solid foundation for drafting agreements that are legally sound, adaptable, and enforceable. Whether you’re working on a new easement or ensuring compliance with best practices, these resources offer expert-vetted guidance to get you and your attorney started on drafting a conservation easement.
Understanding nonprofit governance is crucial for land trusts, and the Connecticut Nonstock Corporation Act provides the legal foundation for how nonprofits operate in the state. This resource links directly to the full text of the Act, offering guidance on board responsibilities, member rights, and organizational compliance. Whether you’re forming a new land trust, updating bylaws, or navigating governance questions, this is a key reference for ensuring your organization stays legally sound.
Strong policies are the foundation of a well-run land trust. CLCC’s Sample Policy Library provides a collection of ready-to-use templates covering governance, land stewardship, financial management, and more. Whether your land trust is refining existing policies or drafting new ones, these samples offer a valuable starting point to ensure best practices and compliance with Land Trust Standards & Practices. Use this resource to streamline policy development and strengthen your organization’s operations.
The U.S. Treasury published new regulations that have important implications for land trusts working on easement or land donations from pass-through entities, such as a partnership or limited liability company. These regulations are dense, complicated and open to further interpretation, but the basic takeaway is that, in certain circumstances, land trusts may need to report and disclose information to the IRS about these donations if the land trust acts as a “material advisor.” If the land trust fails to do so, it could trigger a $200,000 penalty. This creates a first-of-its-kind potential financial liability for land trusts.
Conservation commissions play a vital role in protecting natural resources, advising on land use decisions, and supporting local conservation efforts. This fact sheet outlines their key responsibilities, legal authority, and how they collaborate with land trusts, municipalities, and the public. Whether you’re looking to establish a commission, strengthen its impact, or better understand its role in your community, this resource provides a clear and concise overview.
Strong, clear conservation easement language is essential to ensuring lasting land protection. This resource, courtesy of the Land Trust Alliance explains why certain provisions are critical, legally necessary, and non-negotiable, helping land trusts safeguard against future challenges. Whether you’re negotiating an easement, educating landowners, or strengthening your organization’s legal framework, this guide provides practical insights and best practices to uphold conservation values for generations to come.
Owning a building can bring opportunities—and challenges—for land trusts. Whether it’s preserving a historic structure, maintaining an office space, or navigating tax implications like unrelated business income, this resource provides guidance on the financial, legal, and operational aspects of building ownership. Explore best practices, case studies, and key considerations to help your land trust make informed decisions about acquiring, managing, or repurposing buildings in support of your mission.
CLCC has compiled a number of resources that explore the legal tools and strategies available to land trusts to protect and defend their land. Below are a number of resources that cover key laws, regulations, and landmark cases that have shaped Connecticut’s legal landscape, with topics including encroachments, tree law, water and wetlands, liability and risk management, restoration, documentation, and public process participation.
Navigating conservation laws is essential for land trusts to protect land effectively and comply with legal requirements. This resource, last updated in 2023, provides an overview of key Connecticut laws and regulations impacting conservation, including easements, property tax incentives, land use policies, and nonprofit governance. Whether you’re drafting agreements, advocating for policy, or ensuring compliance, this guide serves as a go-to legal reference for land trust boards and staff.
Many Connecticut towns offer tax abatements to support conservation, but policies vary widely. This compilation of municipal tax abatement policies provides land trusts with real-world examples of how communities incentivize land protection. Whether you’re advocating for a new policy, refining an existing one, or simply exploring ways to strengthen local conservation efforts, this resource offers valuable insights into how towns are using tax incentives to support land conservation.
Property tax exemptions for conserved land vary widely across Connecticut, making it crucial for land trusts and landowners to understand local and state tax laws. This resource provides insights into property assessment statutes (e.g., Public Act 490), conservation easements’ effects on valuations, and local tax abatement policies. Whether you’re navigating tax exemptions or working with assessors these resources offer valuable tools and research to support your efforts.
There are numerous potential tax incentives for landowners who choose to protect all or part of their land, including, but not limited to, income tax deductions, estate tax benefits, and avoided capital gains taxes.
Please note that this is for informational purposes only. Landowners must consult with their own attorney and tax advisor for complete information on their personal financial situation.