How Farmland Preservation Works in Lancaster County
Development rights may be sold or donated through a recorded easement — while the owner keeps the land.
Land preservation generally involves an owner voluntarily restricting some or all future development rights through a recorded agricultural conservation easement, conservation easement or similar legal instrument.
In Pennsylvania’s farmland-preservation program, state, county or local government may purchase development rights from an eligible farm owner, with the amount offered generally based on an appraisal of the value of the development rights being acquired. Some easements are instead donated or created through other conservation arrangements — not every preserved landowner was paid.
The owner continues to own the land and may generally continue qualifying agricultural or other permitted uses. The easement remains attached to the property when it is sold and restricts future owners as well, and many such easements are intended to be perpetual.
What any particular easement permits or forbids must be read from the recorded document and confirmed with the easement holder. Summary descriptions may omit important restrictions.
This article is general education only. It is not legal, tax, title, appraisal, engineering, environmental, insurance or zoning advice, and it does not describe any particular property. Confirm every point through current official records and qualified professionals.