Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program

The Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP) is a property tax incentive program designed to encourage landowners to protect the natural features of their land. It provides a 65% exemption on property taxes for the protected portion of a property (land value only)

NAPTEP is growing! Launched by the Islands Trust and the Islands Trust Fund in 2005 in the Capital and Sunshine Coast Regional Districts, NAPTEP expanded in 2008 to include the Regional District of Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and in 2010 to include the Comox Valley Regional District.

Landowners in the following local trust areas are eligible to apply to this one-of-a-kind tax incentive program:

• Denman
• Executive
• Gabriola
• Galiano
• Gambier
• Hornby
• Mayne
• North Pender
• South Pender
• Salt Spring
• Saturna
• Thetis

NAPTEP can provide landowners with significant property tax savings, but there are also costs associated with the program. To assist you in determining if NAPTEP is financially beneficial for your situation, the Applicant's Guide to Calculating NAPTEP Costs and Benefits provides several scenarios comparing NAPTEP costs to property tax savings.

The following documents provide general information about NAPTEP. If you are interested in finding out more about the program we encourage you to contact us. All documents are posted in Portable Document Format and are also available in hard-copy from the Islands Trust Victoria, Gabriola and Salt Spring offices.

• Program Brochure (updated January 2009)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Islands Trust Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Regulation

Applicant Information

Applicants to NAPTEP are strongly encouraged to obtain independent legal and tax advice before deciding to apply. A conservation covenant is a lasting legacy that will protect your land’s special features forever.

• Application Form and Guide
• Annotated Standard NAPTEP Covenant
• Income Tax Resources
• Applicant's Guide to Calculating NAPTEP Costs and Benefits

Baseline Reports

NAPTEP requires that a baseline ecological report be prepared for each covenanted property prior to registering the conservation covenant. This report needs to be prepared by a pre-approved Environmental Professional.

A baseline inventory report is an integral part of every conservation covenant. It records the condition of a covenant area at the time the covenant is registered and typically includes information on natural features as well as built structures in the covenant area (such as wells, driveways, powerlines, etc). The baseline report acts as a legal tool - it justifies a covenant’s presence and helps to enforce it should there be violations.

• Baseline Report Guideline and Sample Baseline Report

Contact Information

Enquiry BC

Enquiry BC is a Provincial Government phone service that connects you to ministries and agencies within the Provincial government. You may contact us for free using the toll free number or use the number in your area. When you contact Enquiry BC ask for the Islands Trust Fund and you will be transferred directly.