Alteration Review Process for Easement Properties
This page is designed for current preservation easement property owners and provides guidance, resources, and clear steps to help support you as a steward of a historic property. Preservation Utah works closely with easement owners to review proposed changes, answer questions, and ensure that historic places are thoughtfully cared for and protected over time.
If you’d like to learn more about what preservation easements are and how they work, click here.
The preservation easements we hold require that any alterations to the building exterior, property, or interior, if included in your easement, be reviewed and approved in advance by the Historic Properties Committee. Owners need to contact the Historic Properties Program Manager at the start of their project development.
Before You Begin a Project
The preservation easements held by Preservation Utah require that any alterations to the building exterior, site, or interior (if included in your easement) be reviewed and approved before work begins.
Easement property owners must contact the Historic Properties Program Manager at the start of project development. Beginning work without approval may result in enforcement action under the terms of the easement.
To initiate the process, owners should review and submit the Proposal for Alteration Form.
How Review Works
What criteria does the Historic Properties Committee use to evaluate proposed alterations?
Proposed alterations are evaluated based on:
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The specific stipulations in the preservation easement document for the property
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If you do not have a copy of your easement, Preservation Utah can provide one
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The most recent Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
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These nationally recognized standards ensure alterations do not compromise a building’s historic integrity
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Owners are encouraged to review the Standards when planning any project that affects historic features.
How does the Historic Properties Committee apply these criteria?
Each preservation easement is unique to its property, and the Historic Properties Committee adheres closely to the specific stipulations of each easement document.
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The committee strictly applies the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards to character-defining features and areas visible from public ways
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More flexibility may be allowed for alterations to non-character-defining or non-historic features, particularly in areas not visible to the public
For questions about your property’s documentation, contact the Historic Properties Program Manager at (801) 533-0858 or historicproperties @ preservationutah.org
What to Submit
Easement property owners should begin the alteration review process by submitting the required information through the Proposal for Alteration Form.
Information required includes:
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Contact details
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Property address
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Owner name, email, and phone
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Architect and/or contractor name, email, and phone
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Detailed drawings of proposed changes
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Preservation Utah reserves the right to require architectural drawings when necessary
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A site plan sketch showing how the proposed alterations affect the property
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A list of building materials, including sample materials or product literature when appropriate
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A construction timetable
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Photographs of the project area
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Indication of whether state or federal historic rehabilitation tax credits will be used
Submissions are accepted via email. Photos and drawings must be clearly scanned.
File requirements:
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Documents must be submitted as PDFs
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Photos must be submitted as .jpg or .png files
Preservation Utah does not return submitted documents or photographs. Please retain copies for your records.
Approvals, Timing, and Follow-Up
When must information be submitted?
Easement property owners must obtain approval before beginning work.
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The Historic Properties Committee meets monthly. To be considered at a scheduled meeting, required materials must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. This allows staff time to review materials and request additional information if needed.
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Please contact the Preservation Utah office for the current meeting schedule. Exceptions may be made for emergencies that immediately threaten the property.
When will I be notified of a decision?
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Property owners will receive written notification of the Historic Properties Committee’s decision within two weeks of the meeting at which the project is reviewed.
What follow-up documentation is required?
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After a project is completed, owners must submit photographs documenting that the work was completed in accordance with the approved plans.
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Other Reviews, Legal Requirements, and Help
Are there other agencies I need to contact?
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If your property is located within a local historic district, you must also contact your city’s historic preservation or landmark commission. Local ordinances may impose additional review requirements.
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If you plan to apply for state or federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, contact the Utah State Historic Preservation Office at (801) 533-3500 before beginning work.
Is this legally enforceable?
Yes. If an easement property owner makes alterations without approval, the easement documents authorize Preservation Utah to pursue enforcement actions, including:
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Requiring restoration of the property to its pre-violation condition
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Entering the property to correct the violation and charging the owner for associated costs
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Recovering damages necessary to restore the property