{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-4312.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-4312.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-4312.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-4312.html"}],"law_id":77285,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77285,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4312","catch_line":"Effects of districts","history":"1977, c. 681, \u00a7 15.1-1512; 1979, c. 377; 1987, c. 552; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A\n\nLand lying within a district and used in agricultural or forestal production shall automatically qualify for an agricultural or forestal use-value assessment pursuant to Article 4 (§ 58.1-3229 et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 58.1, if the requirements for such assessment contained therein are satisfied. Any ordinance adopted pursuant to § 15.2-4303 shall extend such use-value assessment and taxation to eligible real property within such district whether or not a local ordinance pursuant to § 58.1-3231 has been adopted.B\n\nNo local government shall exercise any of its powers to enact local laws or ordinances within a district in a manner which would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in contravention of the purposes of this chapter unless such restrictions or regulations bear a direct relationship to public health and safety. The comprehensive plan and zoning and subdivision ordinances shall be applicable within said districts, to the extent that such ordinances are not in conflict with the conditions to creation or continuation of the district set forth in the ordinance creating or continuing the district or the purposes of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall affect the authority of the locality to regulate the processing or retail sales of agricultural or forestal products, or structures therefor, in accordance with the local comprehensive plan or any local ordinances. Local ordinances, comprehensive plans, land use planning decisions, administrative decisions and procedures affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district shall take into account the existence of such district and the purposes of this chapter.C\n\nIt shall be the policy of all agencies of the Commonwealth to encourage the maintenance of farming and forestry in districts and all administrative regulations and procedures of such agencies shall be modified to this end insofar as is consistent with the promotion of public health and safety and with the provisions of any federal statutes, standards, criteria, rules, regulations, or policies, and any other requirements of federal agencies, including provisions applicable only to obtaining federal grants, loans or other funding.D\n\nNo special district for sewer, water or electricity or for nonfarm or nonforest drainage may impose benefit assessments or special tax levies on the basis of frontage, acreage or value on land used for primarily agricultural or forestal production within a district, except a lot not exceeding one-half acre surrounding any dwelling or nonfarm structure located on such land. However, such benefit assessment or special ad valorem levies may continue if imposed prior to the formation of the district.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":277219,"text":"Land lying within a district and used in agricultural or forestal production shall automatically qualify for an agricultural or forestal use-value assessment pursuant to Article 4 (§ 58.1-3229 et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 58.1, if the requirements for such assessment contained therein are satisfied. Any ordinance adopted pursuant to § 15.2-4303 shall extend such use-value assessment and taxation to eligible real property within such district whether or not a local ordinance pursuant to § 58.1-3231 has been adopted.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":277220,"text":"No local government shall exercise any of its powers to enact local laws or ordinances within a district in a manner which would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in contravention of the purposes of this chapter unless such restrictions or regulations bear a direct relationship to public health and safety. The comprehensive plan and zoning and subdivision ordinances shall be applicable within said districts, to the extent that such ordinances are not in conflict with the conditions to creation or continuation of the district set forth in the ordinance creating or continuing the district or the purposes of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall affect the authority of the locality to regulate the processing or retail sales of agricultural or forestal products, or structures therefor, in accordance with the local comprehensive plan or any local ordinances. Local ordinances, comprehensive plans, land use planning decisions, administrative decisions and procedures affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district shall take into account the existence of such district and the purposes of this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":277221,"text":"It shall be the policy of all agencies of the Commonwealth to encourage the maintenance of farming and forestry in districts and all administrative regulations and procedures of such agencies shall be modified to this end insofar as is consistent with the promotion of public health and safety and with the provisions of any federal statutes, standards, criteria, rules, regulations, or policies, and any other requirements of federal agencies, including provisions applicable only to obtaining federal grants, loans or other funding.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":277222,"text":"No special district for sewer, water or electricity or for nonfarm or nonforest drainage may impose benefit assessments or special tax levies on the basis of frontage, acreage or value on land used for primarily agricultural or forestal production within a district, except a lot not exceeding one-half acre surrounding any dwelling or nonfarm structure located on such land. However, such benefit assessment or special ad valorem levies may continue if imposed prior to the formation of the district.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13499,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act","identifier":"43","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12721,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:04","permalink":{"id":157997,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13499,"identifier":"43","token":"15.2\/IV\/43","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/43\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12721,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Governmental Entities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":157897,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12721,"identifier":"IV","token":"15.2\/IV","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83266,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4300","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/15.2-4300\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4300","metadata":false},{"id":78071,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4301","catch_line":"Declaration of policy findings and purpose","url":"\/15.2-4301\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4301","metadata":false},{"id":61769,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4302","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-4302\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4302","metadata":false},{"id":84802,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4303","catch_line":"Power of localities to enact ordinances; application form and fees; maps; sample form","url":"\/15.2-4303\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4303","metadata":false},{"id":67090,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4304","catch_line":"Agricultural and forestal districts advisory committee","url":"\/15.2-4304\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4304","metadata":false},{"id":55800,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4305","catch_line":"Application for creation of district in one or more localities; size and location of parcels","url":"\/15.2-4305\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4305","metadata":false},{"id":67788,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4306","catch_line":"Criteria for evaluating application","url":"\/15.2-4306\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4306","metadata":false},{"id":82465,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4307","catch_line":"Review of application; notice; hearing","url":"\/15.2-4307\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4307","metadata":false},{"id":54465,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4308","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-4308\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4308","metadata":false},{"id":58833,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4309","catch_line":"Hearing; creation of district; conditions; notice","url":"\/15.2-4309\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4309","metadata":false},{"id":56331,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4310","catch_line":"Additions to a district","url":"\/15.2-4310\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4310","metadata":false},{"id":78028,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4311","catch_line":"Review of districts","url":"\/15.2-4311\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4311","metadata":false},{"id":77285,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4312","catch_line":"Effects of districts","url":"\/15.2-4312\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4312","metadata":false},{"id":66279,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4313","catch_line":"Proposals as to land acquisition or construction within district","url":"\/15.2-4313\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4313","metadata":false},{"id":83920,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4314","catch_line":"Withdrawal of land from a district; termination of a district","url":"\/15.2-4314\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4314","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":78028,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4311","catch_line":"Review of districts","url":"\/15.2-4311\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4311","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66279,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4313","catch_line":"Proposals as to land acquisition or construction within district","url":"\/15.2-4313\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4313","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-4312\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 681 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1979, chapter 377; in 1987, chapter 552; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82682,"section_number":"25.1-106","catch_line":"Condemnation of lands within agricultural and forestal districts","order_by":null,"url":"\/25.1-106\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":84802,"section_number":"15.2-4303","catch_line":"Power of localities to enact ordinances; application form and fees; maps; sample form","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4303\/"},{"id":56646,"section_number":"58.1-3229","catch_line":"Repealed","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3229\/"},{"id":62066,"section_number":"58.1-3231","catch_line":"Authority of counties, cities and towns to adopt ordinances; general reassessment following adoption of ordinance","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3231\/"}],"permalink":{"id":158047,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77285,"identifier":"15.2-4312","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4312","url":"\/15.2-4312\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-4312\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4312","dublin_core":{"Title":"Effects of districts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-4312","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Land lying within a district<\/span> and used in agricultural or forestal production<\/span> shall automatically qualify for an agricultural or forestal use-value assessment pursuant to Article 4 (§ 58.1-3229<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 58.1, if the requirements for such assessment contained therein are satisfied. Any ordinance<\/span> adopted pursuant to § 15.2-4303<\/a> shall extend such use-value assessment and taxation to eligible real property within such district<\/span> whether or not a local ordinance<\/span> pursuant to § 58.1-3231<\/a> has been adopted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No local government<\/span> shall exercise any of its powers to enact local laws<\/span> or ordinances<\/span> within a district<\/span> in a manner which would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in contravention of the purposes of this chapter unless such restrictions or regulations bear a direct relationship to public health and safety. The comprehensive plan and zoning and subdivision ordinances<\/span> shall be applicable within said districts<\/span>, to the extent that such ordinances<\/span> are not in conflict with the conditions to creation or continuation of the district<\/span> set forth in the ordinance<\/span> creating or continuing the district<\/span> or the purposes of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall affect the authority of the locality<\/span> to regulate the processing or retail sales of agricultural or forestal products<\/span>, or structures therefor, in accordance with the local comprehensive plan or any local ordinances<\/span>. Local ordinances<\/span>, comprehensive plans, land use planning decisions, administrative decisions and procedures affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district<\/span> shall take into account the existence of such district<\/span> and the purposes of this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It shall be the policy of all agencies of the Commonwealth to encourage the maintenance of farming and forestry in districts<\/span> and all administrative regulations and procedures of such agencies shall be modified to this end insofar as is consistent with the promotion of public health and safety and with the provisions of any federal statutes<\/span>, standards, criteria, rules, regulations, or policies, and any other requirements of federal agencies, including provisions applicable only to obtaining federal grants, loans or other funding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> No special district<\/span> for sewer, water or electricity or for nonfarm or nonforest drainage may impose benefit assessments or special tax levies on the basis of frontage, acreage or value on land used for primarily agricultural or forestal production<\/span> within a district<\/span>, except a lot not exceeding one-half acre surrounding any dwelling or nonfarm structure located on such land. However, such benefit assessment or special ad valorem levies may continue if imposed prior to the formation of the district<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEFFECTS OF DISTRICTS (\u00a7 15.2-4312)\n\nA. Land lying within a district and used in agricultural or forestal production\nshall automatically qualify for an agricultural or forestal use-value assessment\npursuant to Article 4 (§ 58.1-3229 et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 58.1, if\nthe requirements for such assessment contained therein are satisfied. Any\nordinance adopted pursuant to § 15.2-4303 shall extend such use-value\nassessment and taxation to eligible real property within such district whether\nor not a local ordinance pursuant to § 58.1-3231 has been adopted.\n\nB. No local government shall exercise any of its powers to enact local laws or\nordinances within a district in a manner which would unreasonably restrict or\nregulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in contravention of\nthe purposes of this chapter unless such restrictions or regulations bear a\ndirect relationship to public health and safety. The comprehensive plan and\nzoning and subdivision ordinances shall be applicable within said districts, to\nthe extent that such ordinances are not in conflict with the conditions to\ncreation or continuation of the district set forth in the ordinance creating or\ncontinuing the district or the purposes of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter\nshall affect the authority of the locality to regulate the processing or retail\nsales of agricultural or forestal products, or structures therefor, in\naccordance with the local comprehensive plan or any local ordinances. Local\nordinances, comprehensive plans, land use planning decisions, administrative\ndecisions and procedures affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district\nshall take into account the existence of such district and the purposes of this\nchapter.\n\nC. It shall be the policy of all agencies of the Commonwealth to encourage the\nmaintenance of farming and forestry in districts and all administrative\nregulations and procedures of such agencies shall be modified to this end\ninsofar as is consistent with the promotion of public health and safety and with\nthe provisions of any federal statutes, standards, criteria, rules, regulations,\nor policies, and any other requirements of federal agencies, including\nprovisions applicable only to obtaining federal grants, loans or other funding.\n\nD. No special district for sewer, water or electricity or for nonfarm or\nnonforest drainage may impose benefit assessments or special tax levies on the\nbasis of frontage, acreage or value on land used for primarily agricultural or\nforestal production within a district, except a lot not exceeding one-half acre\nsurrounding any dwelling or nonfarm structure located on such land. However,\nsuch benefit assessment or special ad valorem levies may continue if imposed\nprior to the formation of the district.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 681, \u00a7 15.1-1512; 1979, c. 377; 1987, c. 552; 1997, c. 587.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}