Land Banks

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Land banks are public entities with unique governmental powers, created pursuant to state-enabling legislation, that are solely focused on converting problem properties into productive use according to local community goals.

Land banks aim to create a more effective, efficient, and equitable system to deal with problem properties. They stabilize the supply of available properties through strategic acquisition, land assembly and management, and streamlined property disposition.

Land banks commonly have special powers, including the ability to hold land tax-free, clear title, negotiate sales, convey property for other-than-monetary consideration, and lease for interim uses, to name a few. A land bank’s effectiveness depends in part on an accurate assessment of the market and causes of problem properties as well as the barriers preventing a property from returning to productive use.

In the last decade, hundreds of land banks have been created, help unlock the hidden value of vacant and problem properties by returning them to productive use as assets in community revitalization.

As the foremost national resources for land banks, Community Progress’ is proud to lead the National Land Bank Network (NLBN), which unites land bank leaders to share knowledge, network, and leverage their strengths to better inform policy change, strengthen land banking as a tool, and build a national community of practice. We’ve developed this online land bank resource center to inform you, inspire you, and guide you.

Land Bank Resources

National Map of Land Banks

Get Inspired! See where land banks exist across the country by exploring our national map of land banks.

Land Banks + Community Land Trusts Map

Discover where land banks, land banking programs, and CLTs are located across the U.S. and where they may have shared service areas.

Featured Publications

Get Help

For more information on how Community Progress can help advance your land bank work, check out: our services, or send us a message to request help.

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More than 250 land banks have been launched across the United States