AGENDA DATE: 11/18/2026
TITLE:
Title
Agricultural and Forestal Districts (AFDs): Periodic Review of the Glen Oaks and South Garden AFDs
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Adoption of an ordinance to amend County Code Chapter 3, Agricultural and Forestal Districts, Article II, Districts of Statewide Significance, Division 2, Districts pertaining to the periodic review of the Glen Oaks and South Garden AFDs
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Tevendale, Lynch, Svoboda, Barnes, Maliszewski, Clark
PRESENTER (S): Scott Clark
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Agricultural and Forestal Districts (AFD) program is a voluntary land conservation program in which landowners can limit the development potential of their land to help protect the rural landscape. The program is structured to protect the following public interests: production of food and other agricultural and silvicultural products; provision of essential open spaces; strong agricultural and silvicultural economies; and protection and preservation of natural resources and retention of continuous and unfragmented land. The County currently has 27 districts across the Rural Area.
While there are several limitations to uses within the districts, the restrictions on subdivisions are the most notable. In Albemarle County, district parcels may not use “development rights” to subdivide off lots smaller than 21 acres (except in the case of land transfers to immediate family members). Subdivision of district properties into 21-acre or larger parcels is not restricted by the AFD ordinance.
While the districts impose certain restrictions on the use of land, they do not confer any automatic tax benefits. Parcels in the districts are taxed in a variety of categories and include many properties that are taxed at the full fair-market value.
During the 2016 update of Chapter 3 of the County Code, which establishes and regulates the AFD...
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