Copies of the Virginia Agricultural and Forestal District Act are available online (http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodepopularnames/local-agricultural-and-forestal-districts-act/) and in the Planning Division Office; copies of the County’s pertinent ordinances are available in the Planning Division Office.  Maps depicting the County’s existing districts are available online www.fauquiercounty.gov/government/departments-a-g/community-development/planning/long-range-planning/agricultural-and-forestal-program and for viewing in the Planning Division Office.  For more information, call 540-422-8210. 

Yes, there is an application fee of $100 per parcel.  Applications must be filed by February 1 of each year. Applications may be obtained online www.fauquiercounty.gov/government/departments-a-g/community-development/planning/long-range-planning/agricultural-and-forestal-program or at the Planning Division Office, Third Floor, 10 Hotel Street, Suite 305, Warrenton, VA, 20186.

Each district must contain a core of at least 200 acres in one or more contiguous parcels. An eligible parcel may be added to a district if its nearest boundary lies within one mile of the core’s boundary; if it adjoins such a parcel; or if the Board of Supervisors finds, in consultation with the Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission, that the parcel contains agriculturally and forestally significant land. No parcel less than five acres may be added to a district. Parcels five to 25 acres may be added to a district provided they are under a perpetual conservation, open space easement held for public benefit or part of a contiguous group of parcels under the same ownership and in excess of 25 acres.  Agricultural and Forestal Districts are renewed every 10 years. During the renewal process acreage, ownership, and use of the parcels are reviewed by the Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission prior to the Board of Supervisors’ action on the district.

Land within an Agricultural and Forestal District is prohibited from being developed to a more intensive use for the duration of the District. Land adjacent to the District is not prohibited from development; however, if the development requires approval from the Board of Supervisors, they must consider any adverse impacts that it may have on the continued agricultural or forestal production of the District.

Yes. Once a parcel is in a district, no lot less than 50 acres may be subdivided from the parcel, except for family transfers and boundary line adjustments. Dwellings and certain agricultural and forestal uses are allowed by-right in these districts. Other uses may be sought with approval of a Special Exception.

Yes. Property in an Agricultural and Forestal District, which otherwise meets the criteria for a Special Land Use Assessment, automatically qualifies for the Land Use Assessment program. The Commissioner of the Revenue administers this program. Under the Land Use program, property owners pay less in real estate taxes to keep their land rural. The four classifications eligible for a land use tax break include agricultural, forestal, horticultural and open space land, provided applicable requirements are met. Land in an agricultural and forestal district may be exempt from special assessments, levies or taxes except on lots of one-half acre or less around a dwelling or non-farm structure.