Easements

Preserving & protecting historic properties in and around charleston

Preservation easements protect historic properties by safeguarding its historic character, materials, and significance in perpetuity.

A preservation easement is a legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and Historic Charleston Foundation designed to provide protection for the property in perpetuity. In addition to preventing inappropriate changes from being made to a historic property, easements also can offer tax advantages for the donor. Easement donors make a gift to current and future generations when they voluntarily place perpetual restrictions on their historic property. Today, we hold more than 400 easements and covenants throughout Charleston and the Lowcountry.

Types of Easements

exterior facade of building on Society Street in Charleston, S.C.

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.

Interior of historic building in Chalreston, S.C.

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.

Landscape and building at Mulberry Plantation

Open Space Easements

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

Example: Mulberry Plantation