Purchase of Development Rights

Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) is a land protection tool that pays landowners to protect their land from development. PDR is a voluntary and non-regulatory program through which a government agency, or private nonprofit organization, buys development rights (also known as a conservation easement) from landowners in exchange for limiting development on the land in the future. After the development rights have been purchased, development of the property is generally limited, and the land can not be developed for the term of the easement (usually, conservation easements are permanent). The buyer of the development rights pays the difference between the land's value as open space and its value without the development restrictions.

This tool has been used most frequently to preserve agricultural lands. PDR can be financially advantageous to the agricultural landowner, as good farmland, which is typically cleared, well-drained, and relatively flat, is often highly valued for its development potential. PDR can also be used to protect significant natural areas, and could be used to protect almost any natural or cultural feature associated with a parcel.