Donation of Land

Ways to Donate

There are many ways to donate property while still meeting your financial and lifestyle needs. In addition to leaving a legacy that benefits nature forever, there are potential tax benefits to you or your estate in donations of land. For example, properties with significant ecological value, can through the Federal Government's Ecological Gifts Program provide benefits in the form of tax credits and/or reduction in Capital Gains.

Gift of an interest in Land (Conservation Covenant)

What is it? A conservation covenant permanently and legally protects the natural ecosystems and ecological values of the portion(s) of land a landowner wishes to protect, while still allowing them to retain ownership and use of the land.

What are the benefits? For people who wish to live on, or sell their property, while ensuring the protection of nature, a conservation covenant is an excellent tool. Conservation covenants are tailored to allow landowners meet their financial and life needs while still protecting nature. The donation of an interest in land through a conservation covenant is eligible for a tax-receipt for any difference in value, based on a before and after appraisal by an independent AACI-certified appraiser (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute).

Fee-Simple Donation or Land Aquisition

What is it? A Fee-simple donation is a form of land donation that involves a straight transfer of title of ecologically significant land, from the landowner to a conservation agency like HAT.

What are the benefits? Land owners who choose a fee simple donation of land are assured of a conservation outcome for their land. Fee simple donations often include split receipt scenarios which allow landowners to meet both their financial and conservation goals. In most cases, a fee simple donation of land is eligible for a tax-receipt for the value of the land as appraised by an independent AACI-certified appraiser (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute). NOTE: While HAT does not typically accept Fee-simple donations of land, if this is an option you would like to consider please contact HAT who can provide further information on this and other options for land donations.

The federal Ecological Gifts Program is a way for Canadians with ecologically sensitive land to protect nature and leave a legacy for future generations while offering significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land or a partial interest in land.

Life Estate

What is it?  Life Estates create a future fee simple donation of land, while allowing landowners to continue to live on and use the property during their lifetime.  Life estate properties do not necessarily need to have high ecological values or natural ecosystems.

What are the benefits? If you wish to donate land, but also wish to live on the property or retain use of the property, a life estate may be an option for you. If eligible for a tax-receipt, the value of the donation would be determined by an independent appraisal of the property, and an actuary would determine the value of the life estate. The final tax receipt would be the appraised value of the land minus the appraised value of the life estate.

Donation of Land as an Asset

What is it? Donating land as an Asset is a form of land donation that involves a donating lands that do not have high ecological values or natural ecosystems eg. city lot with house, to be used as an asset to further HAT’s mission. The donation could include HAT selling the property and using the funds raised to conserve other ecologically valuable lands.

What are the benefits? If your land which represents an important asset to you does not have natural ecosystems you can greatly support HAT’s mission for land protection in our region through donating your land as an asset. HAT will discuss with you how your property could be used to help conserve natural landscapes. A donation of land as an asset is eligible for a tax-receipt for the value of the land as appraised by an independent AACI-certified appraiser (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute).

If you have a parcel of land that is in the Capital Regional District that has natural or ecologically significant ecosystems  and you are interested exploring any of the above donation options, please contact us.   

If your property is outside the Capital Regional District, consider contacting the Land Trust Alliance of BC to find a land trust in your area.

If your property is outside the Capital Regional District, consider contacting the Land Trust Alliance of BC to find a land trust in your area.