The document discusses California's AB551 Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which aims to increase access to land for urban agriculture. The act allows landowners to receive tax incentives for leasing their vacant land for urban farming or community gardens. Cities and counties must designate approved zones for landowners to qualify. Landowners who lease their land for agricultural use see their property tax reassessed at a lower rate. Supporters can help bring these incentive zones to their cities by contacting elected officials and attending community meetings to show support for urban agriculture.
The document discusses California's AB551 Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which aims to increase access to land for urban agriculture. The act allows landowners to receive tax incentives for leasing their vacant land for urban farming or community gardens. Cities and counties must designate approved zones for landowners to qualify. Landowners who lease their land for agricultural use see their property tax reassessed at a lower rate. Supporters can help bring these incentive zones to their cities by contacting elected officials and attending community meetings to show support for urban agriculture.
The document discusses California's AB551 Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which aims to increase access to land for urban agriculture. The act allows landowners to receive tax incentives for leasing their vacant land for urban farming or community gardens. Cities and counties must designate approved zones for landowners to qualify. Landowners who lease their land for agricultural use see their property tax reassessed at a lower rate. Supporters can help bring these incentive zones to their cities by contacting elected officials and attending community meetings to show support for urban agriculture.
The document discusses California's AB551 Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which aims to increase access to land for urban agriculture. The act allows landowners to receive tax incentives for leasing their vacant land for urban farming or community gardens. Cities and counties must designate approved zones for landowners to qualify. Landowners who lease their land for agricultural use see their property tax reassessed at a lower rate. Supporters can help bring these incentive zones to their cities by contacting elected officials and attending community meetings to show support for urban agriculture.
KNOW THE FACTS IN SAN DIEGO WHAT IS AB551: URBAN AGRICULTURE INCENTIVE ZONES ACT? AB551 is a California bill passed in 2014 which aims to increase land access for urban agriculture through the use of vacant, privately-owned land. This allows landowners in urban areas to receive tax incentives for putting land into agriculture use. For landowners in San Diego County to benefit from this new state law, county and city jurisdictions must work together to designate approved urban agriculture incentive zones (UAIZ). You can help make this happen!
BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICUTLURE
UNDERSTANDING THE TAX INCENTIVE
Urban agriculture provides numerous benefits not only to
those growing food, but also to the cities and neighborhoods in which it happens. City gardening and farming offers public benefits such as vibrant green spaces and recreation, education about fresh food and the effort it takes to produce it, ecological benefits for the city, sites that help build community, and a source of local economic development.
Properties participating in an urban agriculture
incentive zone will be reassessed yearly based on the annual average per acre value of irrigated cropland in California. In 2014, this value was $12,500 per acre.
HOW UAIZ WORKS FOR LANDOWNERS
After the county and your city approves an UAIZ, you can apply through your city government to participate. You must agree to lease your vacant land for a minimum of 5 years for agriculture use. Your property tax will then be reassessed at a lower rate during the time you lease your land to individuals or groups for farming or gardening. To qualify: 1. Vacant parcels of land must be between 0.1 and 3 acres 2. Land must be put into active agricultural use 3. Agriculture activity can be commercial or noncommercial 4. Land must be free of residential dwellings 5. Physical structures on the land must support the agricultural use of the site LEARN MORE UC Cooperative Extension: Guide to Implementing the Urban Agricultural Incentive Zones Act, http://tiny.cc/r0ze2x Full text of the law: http://tiny.cc/sx4e2x
For example, if your 1/2 acre vacant parcel in the
City of San Diego is assessed at $250,000, you pay approximately $2,873* in annual property taxes. If your parcel is put into a 5 year urban agriculture lease, it will be reassessed to a value of $6,050. The annual property tax is decreased from $2,873 to $71. *City of San Diego property tax rate in 2014 = 1.17901
WANT TO SEE AN UAIZ IN YOUR CITY?
1. Contact your elected officials to state your support. 2. Share this fact sheet with neighbors, friends, and other supporters of urban agriculture. 3. Contact the San Diego Food System Alliance to attend an upcoming community meeting.
CONTACT Elly Brown, Facilitator San Diego Food Systems Alliance [email protected] Visit us at www.sdfsa.org
