About CLT:

This Community Land Trust Program identifies Community Land Trust (CLT) eligibility and operation criteria under which the City Council may initially designate and revoke the redesignation of a CLT, and under which the City Manager, or their designee, may renew or recommend City Council revocation of the designation of CLTs in the City of Dallas. In general, a CLT is an organization that is created to acquire and hold land for the benefit of developing and preserving long-term affordable housing by separating the cost of land ownership from the cost of home ownership with a 99-year ground lease and home resale formula.

The homeowner may build equity at a pre-negotiated maximum rate (resale formula) over the tenure of the ground lease and be eligible for a property tax reduction based on the deed restriction, assuming housing market appreciation. The resale formula is the amount a person may sell their home for at any given point. 

The application process will establish all applicable guidelines in accordance with those described herein. A CLT accomplishes its purposes by separating the cost of land ownership from the cost of home ownership. Specifically, a CLT retains long-term ownership of land, while either selling or leasing the residential structure built or existing on the CLT-owned land in order to create or maintain affordable housing.

The purpose of CLT is to:

• Provide affordable housing for low-income and moderate-income residents in the community
• Promote resident ownership of housing
• Keep housing affordable for future residents
• Capture the value of public investment for long-term community benefit.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible, a non-profit CLT organization must demonstrate that the organization:

• Has been created to acquire and hold land for the benefit of developing and preserving long-term affordable housing in the City of Dallas
• Must be exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the IRS Code
• Has adopted articles of incorporation stating that it has the purpose to acquire and hold land for the benefit of developing and preserving long-term affordable housing in the City of Dallas
• Currently owns or intends to own land for the purpose of leasing the land and selling or leasing the housing units located on the land
• Has adopted articles of incorporation stating that on discontinuance of the organization by dissolution that the assets related to its CLT activities be transferred to the City of Dallas or an organization that is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), IRS Code and designated as a CLT by the City of Dallas
• Is not controlled by, nor receives direction from, a for-profit entity or corporation

How to Apply:

Prior to submitting a written application, the CLT must attend a CLT information session facilitated by the Department and receive information about the Program, designation process, and re-designation process. To register for the next available information session, contact 214-670-7306.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDEBOOK

DallasULBDP@dallascityhall.com     |     214-670-3644     |     www.dallascityhall.com/CLT