Agricultural-Forestal Districts

What: Agricultural-forestal districts are rural zones reserved for the production of agricultural products and timber and the maintenance of open space land as a important economic and environmental resource. They are established according to state guidelines with the approval of the local governing body. In essence, a district constitutes a voluntary agreement between landowners and the government that no new, non-agricultural uses will take place in the district. An agricultural/forestal district provides much stronger protection for farmers and farmland than does traditional zoning.

Why: From the landowner's point of view, the district provides 1) land use taxation; 2) certainty that agriculture will be maintained in the area; 3) protection from nuisance ordinances that would limit customary farming practices, such as manure spreading or prescribed burning; 4) assurance that the district will be taken into account in local planning decisions, such as rezonings; 5) protection in most cases from government acquisition of land or special assessments for public utilities, and 6) restrictions on state policies and spending as they affect the district.

From the government's perspective, districts serve the public good by maintaining the rural character of the community, protecting productive agricultural and forest land, and contributing to the preservation of water supply and other natural resources.

Regulations: Landowners agree not to subdivide their land to a more intensive non-agricultural use during the term of the district (with the exception of family divisions, which may be allowed). The government agrees to shield the district from development pressure.

Term: Applying landowners and the local government choose a term between 4 and 10 years.

Where: Twenty-nine Virginia localities currently have agricultural/forestal districts.

Eligible Land : The district must have a core of contiguous properties consisting of at least 200 acres. Outlying parcels can be included in the district as long as they are within one mile of the boundary of the 200-acre core or contiguous to district land that is within one mile of the core. There is no minimum acreage for each landowner, no minimum number of landowners (one parcel can be a district), and no maximum acreage for the district.

Withdrawing or Adding Land: Landowners can withdraw or add land to the district any time during either the application or the review process. Heirs can withdraw land within two years of the death of the landowner. In addition, for "good and reasonable cause," an owner can petition the Board of Supervisors for permission to withdraw land. When it establishes the district, the Board can set criteria for addressing such petitions. Guidelines could be provided for evaluating requests based on economic hardship, for example. An appeals process is provided.

Application: Landowners applying for a district must provide a description and map of the district, total acreage, acreage and signature of each landowner, proposed conditions, and proposed review period. The application is reviewed by the county's Agricultural District Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the public. The Board of Supervisors must act on the application within 180 days.

Learn more about Ag/Forestal Districts

More Information: Contact your county government if agricultural and forestal districts already exist in your locality. Otherwise, contact the Valley Conservation Council.