The first step in joining an Agricultural and Forestal District is to meet with a Rural Areas planner to discuss the Agricultural District program and to determine if your land qualifies to join a District.  The Planner can also provide assistance with the application process and with the maps required with the application.

You may contact a Rural Areas planner by calling 434/296-5832 or by visiting the Community Development Department located in the First Floor of the North Wing in the County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 

Land Use Tax:  Qualified land within an Agricultural and Forestal District is eligible for land use taxation (the property must be qualified for land use tax).  In addition, if the County decides to rescind general land use value assessment, landowners in Districts would continue to pay lower taxes so long as the land continued to meet state eligibility standards for land use tax.  

Enrollment in an Agricultural and Forestal District by December 31, 2009, will allow qualified properties to  receive land use tax benefits in 2010.  However, this would not affect any roll-back taxes that may be due for previous years.