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SB754 • 2026

Agricultural & Forestal Districts Act; size of parcels, reduction of core area acreage requirements.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-4305 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act; size of parcels; reduction of core area acreage requirements.</p>

Agriculture Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Reeves
Last action
2026-01-27
Official status
Incorporated
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how existing districts will be affected by this change or when these changes become effective.

Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act; Parcel Size Requirements

This bill changes the minimum core acreage requirement for creating an agricultural and forestal district from 200 acres to 100 acres.

What This Bill Does

  • Reduces the minimum core area requirement from 200 acres to 100 acres.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Landowners who want to create or add land to agricultural and forestal districts.
  • Local governing bodies that approve the creation of these districts.

Terms To Know

Agricultural and Forestal District
An area designated by local government for farming and forestry activities with special protections from development.
Core Area
The main part of an agricultural and forestal district that must meet certain size requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the effective date for these changes.
  • Does not address how existing districts will be affected by this change.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-27 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Incorporated by Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (12-Y 0-N)

  2. 2026-01-26 Local Government

    Rereferred from Local Government to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (9-Y 0-N)

  3. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Presented and ordered printed 26104404D

  4. 2026-01-20 Local Government

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

Official Summary Text

Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act; size of parcels; reduction of core area acreage requirements.
Reduces from 200 to 100 the minimum core acreage requirement that a locality must meet to create an agriculture and forestal district.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL to amend and reenact §
15.2-4305
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act; size of parcels; reduction of core area acreage requirements.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
15.2-4305
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
15.2-4305
. Application for creation of district in one or more localities; size and location of parcels.

On or before November 1 of each year or any other annual date selected by the locality, any owner or owners of land may submit an application to the locality for the creation of a district or addition of land to an existing district within the locality. Each district shall have a core of no less than
200
100
acres in one parcel or in contiguous parcels. A parcel not part of the core may be included in a district (i) if the nearest boundary of the parcel is within one mile of the boundary of the core, (ii) if it is contiguous to a parcel in the district the nearest boundary of which is within one mile of the boundary of the core, or (iii) if the local governing body finds, in consultation with the advisory committee or planning commission, that the parcel not part of the core or within one mile of the boundary of the core contains agriculturally and forestally significant land. No land shall be included in any district without the signature on the application, or the written approval of all owners thereof. A district may be located in more than one locality, provided that (i) separate application is made to each locality involved, (ii) each local governing body approves the district, and (iii) the district meets the size requirements of this section. In the event that one of the local governing bodies disapproves the creation of a district within its boundaries, the creation of the district within the adjacent localities' boundaries shall not be affected, provided that the district otherwise meets the requirements set out in this chapter. In no event shall the act of creating a single district located in two localities pursuant to this subsection be construed to create two districts.