The property must be dedicated to the production of plants/plant products and/or animals/animal products that are useful to humans and are primarily for commercial sale. Products include typical field crops such as hay, grains, corn, soybeans, and animals such as cattle, swine, poultry, equine, etc. Horses kept for pleasure and not in a commercial use (such as boarding, breeding, or training) do NOT qualify. A qualified use must be established before an application can be approved. The use must be shown to be able to support the $1,000 annual minimum gross sales or value.

Land used for agricultural use must consist of a minimum of 5 acres under use and meet prescribed standards for a bona fide production for sale of crops and/or livestock or receive rent payments under a federal or state soil or water conservation program such as CRP or CREP.

Homesites including all lawns, driveways, landscaped areas and supporting (non-agricultural) structures are excluded from the qualified areas. This determination is made by the Assessor’s office.

Land under lakes and ponds are generally included as agricultural land, however they are not considered in the determination of the five-acre minimum.

The property must be dedicated to production of fruits, nuts, or berries that are useful to humans and are primarily for commercial sale. Vineyards generally qualify under Horticulture. A qualified use must be established prior to January 1st of the year in which an application is submitted. The use must be shown to be able to support the $1,000 annual minimum gross sales or value.

Land used for horticulture use must consist of a minimum of 5 acres under use and must meet prescribed standards for bona fide production for sale of fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and/or ornamental products.

Homesites including all lawns, driveways, landscaped areas and supporting (non-agricultural) structures are excluded from the qualified areas. This determination is made by the Assessor’s office.

Land under lakes and ponds are generally included as horticultural land, however they are not considered in the determination of the five-acre minimum.

A Forest Plan prepared by a professional forester or an owner’s written commitment must be provided to qualify for Forest use. Albemarle County recognizes the importance of maintaining standing timber until it is available for harvest. The property owner must have the intention to harvest timber at some time in the future and must not be restricted from this activity by deed restriction.

Land used for forest use must be a minimum of 20 acres under use and must include standing timber and trees devoted to tree growth in such quantity and so spaced and maintained as to constitute a forest area. Areas of forest less than 20 acres may qualify if the parcel is first qualified under an agricultural or horticultural use.

Homesites including all lawns, driveways, landscaped areas and supporting structures are excluded from the qualified areas. This determination is made by the Assessor’s office. Also, any cleared areas are excluded from the minimum acreage calculation.

The property must be consistent with the land use plan of the County and support conservation of natural resources, conservation of scenic/historic resources objectives, floodways or aid in the shaping of the character, direction and timing of community development or the public interest. The property must to be subject to one of the following:

• Conservation easement with a public body
• Agricultural or Forest District
• Open Space Use Agreement (OSUA) with the County

Land in open space must be at least 20 acres (Albemarle County specific), and be used to provide or preserve the land for park or recreational purposes, conservation of land or other natural resources, floodways, historic or scenic purposes or to assist in the shaping of the character, direction, or timing of community development, or for the public interest and consistent with the local land use plan.

Homesites including all lawns, driveways, landscaped areas and supporting structures are excluded from the qualified areas. This determination is made by the Assessor’s office.

Properties in an Ag Forest District or under an Open Space Use Agreement that have not yet been removed from these programs under new rules requiring development rights for inclusion, will not be qualified under this program if they do not retain additional unused development rights.