Community Land Trust (CLT)
Field(s):
Community Development, Housing Planning, Land Use & Law , Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery
Region of Focus:
General
A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a nonprofit, community-based organization that acquires and holds land in trust to ensure long-term affordability and community control. CLTs separate land ownership from building ownership, leasing the land to homeowners or developers while retaining ownership to prevent speculation and price inflation.
How It Works
The CLT owns the land and sells or rents homes on it.
Homebuyers get a long-term, renewable lease (usually 99 years).
Homeowners can build equity, but resale prices are limited to keep housing affordable.
CLTs often include community involvement in decision-making.
Last update:
April 16, 2025
Developed by:
The Urban Lexis Editorial Team
Contributor(s):
With support from:
ChatGPT (by OpenAI) and DeepSeek
We acknowledge the assistance of AI tools in helping draft content. Final edits, fact-checking, and curatorial decisions were made by the Urban Lexis Editorial Team to ensure quality and relevance for our planning community.