Beaufort County Greenspace Program
Program Resources
Learn about upcoming meetings, governing ordinances, and funding status of the Green Space Program.
Next pre-application deadline is:
July 31, 2025*
*A pre-application meeting is required no later than 15 days prior to the deadline
2025 Green Space Advisory Meeting Schedule
January 24, 2025
March 7, 2025
April 11, 2025
June 13, 2025
July 18, 2025
September 12, 2025
October 17, 2025
December 12, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Types of Land Protection
The Green Space Program can consider five types of land protection strategies both inside and outside county lines, casting a wide net for conservation projects to benefit Beaufort County. Application and matching funds requirements vary for each. Read on to learn more.
Conservation Easement:
A conservation easement is commonly used to protect land while allowing the owner to continue owning and utilizing their land. It is a permanent agreement between the property owner and the easement holder, typically an accredited land trust, about what is and is not allowed to occur on the property. They are typically used for large tracts of land.
To have an easement placed on a property, an accredited land trust must hold the easement and conduct, at minimum, an annual survey of the property to ensure the easement terms are not violated. Once the easement terms are determined, the property owner receives compensation for the value of the forfeited development rights.
Tax credits are also available to property owners with conservation easements on their land. Conservation easements are permitted under federal and state laws, which ensure the proper use of easements and associated tax credits. A conservation easement is perpetual, protecting the land forever, even if the land is passed down through a will or purchased by a new owner.
Fee Simple:
When lands are protected through a fee simple process, the property owner sells their land outright to an entity that will then protect the property.
For the Green Space Program, fee simple purchases are made by government entities, including Beaufort County. The County can purchase a property in full or partner with other governments to split the cost, ownership, and future maintenance responsibilities.
Partnership purchases will require restrictive covenants to be placed on the land to determine future land use and ensure permanent preservation.
When Beaufort County is the sole purchaser of a fee simple property through the Green Space Program, public access is required and the property will become a future passive park.
Funding Sources
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Mauris eros dolor pellentesque sed luctus dapibus lobortis orci.
How to Apply to the Green Space Program
Interested in applying to the program? Before starting the process, be sure to check out these resources.
Learn About Eligible Land Types
Eligible Applicants
General Review Process