Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
Conservation easements (CEs) are an effective way of protecting farms, forests, wildlife habitat, and natural resources from development. A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement between a landowner and qualified conservation organization in which development on a property is restricted into perpetuity. These restrictions are recorded in an easement deed that are tied to a property even as it changes ownership. They are designed to keep land available for farm, forestry, habitat, and water quality protection by keeping it in its natural state.
Buncombe County is able to hold conservation easements on farms and forests in the County through the Farmland Preservation Ordinance. Our program’s easements are designed to protect Buncombe’s rural landscape including land with high prime agricultural soils, rich in water resources, sloped forests and mountainous tracts, and other environmentally sensitive features.
Easement Landowner Packet contains information about the following:
- Conservation Easement Basics
- Things to consider when making this decision
- Potential tax/financial benefits
- Restrictions and retained rights
- Steps in the easement process
If you are interested in an easement but unsure if it’s right for you, we still encourage you to submit the application below. We can then reach out to you and discuss if this is the right option for you!
Voluntary Ag Districts (VAD) and Enhanced Voluntary Ag Districts (EVAD)
The purpose of the VAD/EVAD program is to encourage the voluntary preservation of farmland from non-farm development. The program aims to recognize working farms and provide public awareness about what to expect when living in an agricultural community. By doing this, the program aims to decrease the likelihood of legal disputes tied to the sights, smells or sounds related to an agricultural operation between farmers and their neighbors.
To learn more about this program or to apply, please use the links below.