Voluntary Agricultural Districts In Orange County

VAD sign - for website

Orange County's Voluntary Agricultural District Program enhances the identity of the agricultural community by encouraging the voluntary preservation and protection of farmland from non-farm development. Agricultural Land is a valuable asset to the citizens of Orange County

Voluntary Agricultural Districts promote the pride and tradition of Orange County Agriculture. Check out the brochure  for more information.

Benefits

Citizens of Orange County derive many benefits from farmland: clean water and air, plant and animal habitat, fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products, and scenic rural vistas. The Voluntary Agricultural Districts program demonstrates pride and commitment to agriculture and celebrates the contribution of agriculture to the exceptional quality of life in Orange County.

Eligibility

To become an Agricultural District, a farm must first be certified as Qualifying Farmland. To secure certification, a farm must:

  • Be located in the unincorporated area of Orange County;
  • Be used for bona fide farm purposes, as that term is defined in G.S. 106-743.4(a) and G.S. 160D-903;
  • Meet the minimum size requirements, which are as follows:
    • Consist of at least (i) one contiguous acre of land in production for horticultural or agricultural purposes; or (ii) at least twenty total acres of land under management for forestry;
    • In the event that a landowner has multiple tracts of qualifying farmland that are eligible, and those tracts are located within one mile or less of each other, then they may comprise a Voluntary Agricultural District.
  • Be managed in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation defined erosion-control practices and have a current conservation farm plan and/or forestry management plan associated with the current usages and owner; and 
  • Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 121-35, between the County and the owner of such land that prohibits non-farm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten years, except for the creation of not more than three lots that meet applicable County zoning and subdivision regulations.

Application

If you are interested in applying for the Voluntary Agricultural District Program, see below for an overview of the application process.

  1. Application

Fill out and submit an application via mail or drop it off at our office.

  1. Staff Review

Orange Soil and Water Conservation District staff will review the application and follow up to schedule a site visit to learn more about your operation. Staff will also work with you to prepare a conservation plan for agricultural land to include in the application packet. A forest management plan is also required for forested land.

  1. Agricultural Preservation Board

Staff will present the completed application packet to the Agricultural Preservation Board (APB). The APB’s role is to make recommendations for Voluntary Agricultural District or Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District membership to the Board of County Commissioners. The APB typically meets bi-monthly.

  1. Board of County Commissioners

With the recommendation of the Agricultural Preservation Board, applications are then presented to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.  Applications are typically reviewed by the BOCC for approval twice a year.

  1. Conservation Agreement

With BOCC approval, the next step is for all parties to sign the 10-year conservation agreement.   This includes landowner(s), Agricultural Preservation Board Chair, and Board of County Commissioners.

  1. Notification

Following the executed conservation agreement, staff will ensure that the Orange County GIS records are updated to reflect the VAD or EVAD designation and work to schedule signage installation with the landowner.