7 Pa. Code § 137b.62

Current through Register Vol. 54, No.43, October 26, 2024

Section 137b.62 - Enrolled "agricultural use" land of less than 10 contiguous acres

(a)Demonstration of anticipated yearly gross income from agricultural production. If a landowner has a contiguous tract of less than 10 acres of enrolled agricultural use land, the county assessor may require the landowner to demonstrate each year that the anticipated yearly gross income from the production of agricultural commodities on the enrolled land is at least $2,000. A landowner may not be required to demonstrate more than once per year that the enrolled land has sufficient anticipated yearly gross income from the production of agricultural commodities to continue to receive preferential assessment. A county assessor requiring additional information shall notify the landowner in writing and shall clearly state in the notice the reasons why the information or documentation submitted by the landowner fails to demonstrate sufficiency of income, and shall identify the particular information the county assessor requests to demonstrate sufficiency of income.

(b)Annual requirement; circumstances beyond the landowner's control. The $2,000 anticipated annual gross income requirement referenced in this section shall be met each year, unless circumstances beyond the landowner's control are the cause of the requirement not being met.

(c)Examples.

Example 1: A landowner owns 9 acres of enrolled land. The land contains a 9-acre orchard, and is enrolled as agricultural use land. Although the landowner reasonably anticipated production well above the $2,000 minimum production requirement in a particular year, and represented that to the county assessor, a drought, hailstorm or blight causes the orchard's production to drop below $2,000 that year. Preferential assessment of the orchard shall continue.

Example 2: A landowner owns 9 acres of enrolled land. The land contains a 9-acre orchard, and is enrolled as agricultural use land. A plant disease destroys the fruit trees. Although the landowner replants the orchard, it will take several years for gross income from agricultural production from that orchard to meet the $2,000 requirement. Preferential assessment of the orchard shall continue.

Example 3: A landowner owns 8 acres of enrolled land. The tract generates over $2,000 in gross annual income from production of an agricultural commodity. The landowner ceases the production of that particular agricultural commodity and does not begin producing another agricultural commodity on the land. The land is no longer in agricultural use. The landowner's failure to continue the land in an agricultural use capable of producing income constitutes a change to an ineligible use. The landowner is liable for roll-back taxes and interest, and preferential assessment shall terminate.

7 Pa. Code § 137b.62