Farmland Preservation

Farmland Preservation Zoning

Local governments may choose to adopt and have certified a farmland preservation zoning ordinance to ensure that landowners covered by the ordinance are eligible to claim farmland preservation tax credits, (ch. 91, Wis. Stats.). Certification of a local farmland preservation zoning ordinance must be obtained through application to the department.

• Application for Farmland Preservation Zoning Ordinance Certification (5 page Word document)

State certification of all existing ordinances under the farmland preservation program will expire between December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2016, unless the ordinance was certified with an order specifying a different date. Note: Expiration of a farmland preservation zoning ordinance certification does not mean that the ordinance is invalid. It does however mean that landowners covered by the ordinance can no longer claim farmland preservation tax credits.

• List of plan certification expirations (Note: Zoning ordinance certifications expire 1 year after the expiration of the plan certification)
• Interactive map (shows farmland preservation ordinances certified since July 1, 2009)  New!
• List of local jurisdictions with farmland preservation zoning for tax year 2012

Information provided below may assist in developing an ordinance for certification.

• Minimum zoning standards for residential construction in farmland preservation zoning districts (10 page PDF)
• Land Use in Farmland Preservation Zoning Districts (4 page PDF) (summarizes allowable land uses in a certified farmland preservation zoning districts)
• Model zoning ordinance allowing limited nonfarm residences (8 page PDF)
  This model ordinance contains the necessary provisions to issue conditional use permits for these residences and set density and ration restrictions through use of the Base Farm Tract.
• Model zoning ordinance not allowing nonfarm residences (6 page PDF)
  This model ordinance requires landowners to request a rezone of land out of the farmland preservation distrcit if they want to build a nonfarm residence. 

By March 1 of each year, all local zoning authorities must continue to submit to the Department a report of all lands zoned out of their certified farmland preservation district. This report must include the number of acres rezoned as well as a map showing each parcel that was rezoned. Below please find the annual report form and accompanying instructions. The report form can be downloaded and emailed or mailed to the department. Please note that if there were no rezones during the previous year, simply send an email stating this to DATCPWorkingLands@wisconsin.gov.

Annual Rezone Report Form (Excel file)
Rezone Report Instructions (2 page PDF)

Contact DATCPWorkingLands@wisconsin.gov with questions.