Farmland Registration
WHAT IS FARMLAND REGISTRATION?
In 1988, the Maine Legislature enacted Title 7, Chapter 2-B: Registration of Farmland, to protect public health, safety and welfare when commercial agriculture and the development or use of land adjacent to it, are incompatible. Amendments in 1989 authorized farmland owners to enroll voluntarily in 1990 and 1991. Recognizing the potential for increased conflict between farmers and neighbors, the 125th Legislature re-opened enrollment and enacted changes to improve the program.
HOW FARMLAND REGISTRATION BENEFIT MAINE FARMS?
The program is voluntary. Under the amended law, any farmland owner electing to register farmland after July 1, 2012, is able to prohibit Incompatible Use within 50 feet of registered farmland. Incompatible Use means the construction of new wells, drinking water springs, or water supply intake points.For example, if a field of registered farmland is 20 feet from a property boundary line, the owner(s) abutting land will be prohibited from installing any new wells, drinking water springs or water supply intake points within 30 feet of that boundary line.
There is one-time opportunity for those farmland owners who registered land in 1990 or 1991 to renew the registration of eligible farmland by April 1, 2013, in order to prohibit Inconsistent Development and Use within 100 feet of registered farmland. Inconsistent Development and Use means installation of wells, drinking water springs, water supply intake points, new residences, campgrounds, restaurants, playgrounds, schools, commercial food establishments, etc.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Gilbert, FFF Program administrator, (207) 287-7520; email: stephanie.gilbert@maine.gov
PLEASE PRINT AND READ FARMLAND REGISTRATION FORMS 1 THROUGH 6
Form 1 - FARMLAND REGISTRATION FACT SHEET (.pdf)
Form 2A - FARMLAND REGISTRATION APPLICATION (.pdf)
Form 2B FARMLAND REGISTRATION RENEWAL (.pdf)
Form 3 - FARMLAND REGISTRATION CERTIFICATION (.pdf)
Form 4A - NOTICE OF INTENT TO REGISTER FARMLAND (.pdf)
Form 4B - NOTICE OF INTENT TO RENEW REGISTRATION OF FARMLAND (.pdf)
Form 5A - NOTICE OF REGISTERED FARMLAND (.pdf)
Form 5B - NOTICE OF RENEWAL OF FARMLAND REGISTERED
IN 1990/91 (.pdf)
Form 6 - FARMLAND REGISTRATION WITHDRAWAL (.pdf)
Definitions
Eligible farmland consists of tracts of land of 5 or more contiguous acres, which produce a gross annual income of at least $2,000 per year from the sale value of farm products in 1 of 2, or 3 of 5, calendar years preceding the date of application for registration. The owner of the registered farmland bears the burden of proof when there is a question about the eligibility of the land.
Farm products are plants and animals useful to humans, including fruits, berries, vegetables, dairy products, livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, grains, forages, flowers, seeds, grasses, bees, Christmas trees and other similar products.
Eligible farmland does NOT include land used for woodlots, homes, farm buildings, roads, lawns or any area covered with non-crop vegetation.
Abutting land is real estate that shares a common boundary, or portion of a boundary, with registered farmland. Except in the case of the variance (described in the law), a municipality may NOT issue a building or use permit allowing any prohibited development or use of land abutting registered farmland.
