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Initial Contact: A property owner interested considering an easement may contact directly the
easement-holding entity of his/her choice. If the property owner chooses to work with the
County's public/private partnership, the property owner or his/her representative may contact
the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust at 703-354-5093. For general information, call the
Easement Coordinator, Planning Division, Department of Planning and Zoning, at 703-324-1380, TTY 711.
Visit to the Property: Staff of the easement-holding entity will make an appointment to visit the
property, meet with the owner, and perform a preliminary screening of the property.
Consideration of Proposal:
Staff of the easement-holding entity will review the proposal to determine if it meets the
necessary criteria as required by law, including compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, the
determination of public benefit, and the due-diligence research. An attorney for the easement-holding
entity will work with the property owner and his/her representative to draft the deed of
easement. The property owner may be asked to provide documentation related to the deed,
including the:
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Legal description of the property (a description of the boundaries in terms of metes and
bounds) as recorded in the land records of Fairfax County;
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Statement of ownership, liens, or other obligations on the property;
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Description of present uses, including a list of all existing buildings or other structures on the
site; and
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Copy of a plat of survey. If the easement is to follow property lines, as described by the
legal description, a plat of survey is not necessary. However, if the easement includes a
portion of a parcel or parcels, a plat of survey is required to delineate the exact boundaries
of the easement. Details on meeting this requirement will be provided on request.
Recordation and Tax Assessment: The easement donation process is complete when the
property owner has the deed of easement recorded in the land records of Fairfax County and
pays related fees. After the deed is recorded, the property owner sends a copy of the deed to
the director of the County's Department of Tax Administration, who will initiate the valuation
procedures and notify the owner of any change in the County's real estate tax assessment.
Appraisal: If the property owner intends to seek income tax deductions for donation of an
easement, he or she engages an independent appraiser to determine the value of the gift.
Other Expenses: When the property owner hires an attorney to develop the draft deed of
easement, additional expenses can be expected, particularly if a plat of survey is required.
Qualifying property owners may apply for limited funds to reimburse them for the costs incurred
in donating an easement, such as legal and recording fees and survey costs. Contact the
Virginia Land Conservation Foundation at the Virginia Department of Conservation and
Recreation, 804-786-6124, for more information.
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