Metropolitan Agricultural Preserve Program

​The Metropolitan Agricultural Preserve Program protects  farmland in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Local governments identify long-term agricultural lands and establish protective zoning, according to Minnesota Statute 473H.01.

Eligibility

All owners of qualifying agricultural property may apply regardless of homestead status. The property must be:

• Zoned long-term agricultural by the local community, with a maximum residential density of one house per forty acres.
• 40 acres in size. Smaller tracts may qualify in certain instances with the local (township) authority. 
  
• Entered into an eight-year perpetual agreement to leave the property in agricultural use and farm using acceptable practices as approved by the County Agricultural Service.

Apply

Property owners apply for the Agricultural Preserves with the local city or township. 

The application must be:

• Approved by the city or township by June 1 of each year
  
• Filed with County Recorder and a copy to the County Assessor​

Benefits of the program

• The Agricultural Preserve market value is based on sales of agricultural property in non-metropolitan counties as determined by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
• There is no deferred tax like there is in Green Acres.
• Special assessments cannot be levied on Agricultural Preserve property.
  
• An additional property tax credit of $1.50 per acre is applied.
  • Or, the tax calculated using 105 percent of the statewide average tax rate is used if that tax is less than calculated using the $1.50 per acre credit.​

Getting out of the program

• Owners may file an Expiration Notice with the County at any time to get out of the program. 
• The local city or township may also file an Expiration Notice.
• Eight years after the Expiration Notice is filed, the property is out of Agricultural Preserve.
• In limited circumstances, the agricultural preserve may be terminated early because of:
  • ​​Death of an owner, owner's spouse or other qualifying person
  • Land annexation
  • Acquisition by eminent domain​

Program forms

The following forms are intended for use by local governments and should be printed on 8.5” x 14” paper.

• Agricultural Preserve Application Only
• Agricultural Preserve Application with Expiration
• Agricultural Preserve Notice of Early Termination - Death of Owner
• Agricultural Preserve Notice of Early Termination - By Majority Vote of Authority
• Agricultural Preserve Notice by Authority Initiating Expiration
• Agricultural Preserve N​otice by Landowner Initiating Expiration
• Agricultural Preserve Notice of Recision
• Agricultural Preserve Re-Enrolling

Contact the Assessor's Office at 651-438-4200 for more information. You may also refer to your city or township ​for information.