GENESEO, N.Y., Aug. 29, 2025 — The Livingston County Board of Supervisors has designated the month of September as the 30-day annual period for landowners to petition to join an existing agricultural district.
The New York State Legislature amended the Agriculture and Markets Law with Section 303-b, effective Sept. 17, 2004, allowing parcels to be added into agricultural districts on an annual basis. Prior to 2004, landowners had to wait until an agricultural district “opened up” for review to request inclusion, typically once every eight years. The revision to this law requires every county with a certified agricultural district to establish an annual 30-day enrollment period for landowners to request that viable agricultural land be added. Viable agricultural land for this purpose is defined as land that is highly suitable for a commercial farm operation.
To submit property for inclusion in an agricultural district, a landowner must turn in an application packet and a description of the farming activities on the land within the 30-day enrollment period. Application packets are available on the Planning Department website or in hard copy at the Planning Department, 6 Court St. – Room 305, Geneseo, NY, 14454. Landowners may not request removal from an agricultural district during this period. Requests for removal may only be granted when an agricultural district is undergoing its eight-year review.
After Sept. 30, 2025, the Livingston County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) will have 30 days to review requests and report its recommendations to the Livingston County Board of Supervisors. The AFPB will determine whether the land to be included in the agricultural district consists predominantly of “viable agricultural land” and whether the inclusion of such land would serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the district.
The AFPB will then send its recommendation to the board of supervisors to hold a public hearing for acceptance. After the public hearing, the board of supervisors will sends the resolution to include new parcels into existing agricultural districts to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for review and certification.
Questions about the 30-day agricultural district inclusion period can be directed to the Livingston County Planning Department at 585-243-7550. Applications can be submitted in hard copy to the Livingston County Planning Department, 6 Court Street, Room 305, Geneseo, NY, 14454, or online at the Planning Department website before Sept. 30, 2025.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.