For Agricultural and Horticultural Use:

º A detailed acreage report and an aerial photo map generated from the FSA (Farm Service Agency) farm and tract number. These can be obtained from the USDA Farm Service Agency, 772 Richmond Beach Street, Tappahannock, VA 22560. (804) 443-3571 º Agricultural Use Statement by Land Owner -or- º Agricultural Use Statement by Leasing Farmer

Land owner and leasing farmer (if applicable) must complete and sign statements certifying the agricultural use of the land (to establish bona fide commercial production for 5 years prior to year application is filed) and certifying that the land is in a planned program of soil management and soil conservation.


For Forest Use:

º Forest Use Agreement

The owner shall complete and sign the above form to certify that the land is used in a planned program of timber management. Although a signed commitment by the owner listing objectives of maintaining the forest (including methods of soil and water protection and resource management) is acceptable at the beginning of the Land Use Program, every land owner shall be required to have a forest management plan written by a professional forester within a reasonable amount of time. Qualified plans also include VDOF Stewardship Plans and American Forest Foundation Certified Tree Farm Management Plans. If land owners do not already have such a plan in place, they must call Essex County Forester, Warren Coburn, at 804-443-2211 to schedule his, or another professional forester’s, preparation of a plan for your forest land.


For Open Space Use:

There are two ways to qualify:

• Record a perpetual easement, either a conservation or historic easement,    with the Clerk of Circuit Court and include a copy with the application.    (Land owners must notify the Commissioner of the Revenue if they have    a perpetual easement, whether they apply for Land Use or not.) Certain    tracts of land may be eligible for a lower tax rate than the open space    rate. -OR- •Record a commitment with the Clerk of Circuit Court for a specific period of   time (4 to 10 years) which carries certain restrictions as to the use of the land   using the approved Open-Space Use Agreement. A filing fee of $21 payable to   the Clerk of the Circuit Court must accompany the Open Space Use Agreement.

All of the above must also be consistent with the Essex County Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the land use zones contained therein.

Downloadable documents relating to Land Use Program

What is the Land Use program	webpage
Classification of Real Estate - Code of Virginia Section 58.1	48 KB
Essex County Land Use Value - Ordinance	23 KB
Land Use Categories	webpage
Examples and Exceptions to all Land Use Categories	27 KB
Open Space Use Agreement	23 KB
Agricultural Use Statement by Land Owner	26 KB
Agricultural Use Statement by Leasing Farmer	27 KB
Forest Use Agreement	27 KB
Soil management and soil conservation practices	15 KB
Timber management and conservation practices	17 KB
Authorized Agent Consent Form	220 KB
Supporting Docs to be submitted with Application [topic on this web page]	webpage
Rollback Taxes	12 KB
How assessments are determined and current Land Use values	7 KB
Application for Land Use Assessment	594 KB