Farmland Tax Assessment
Under New Jersey law, any property is eligible for a preferential farmland tax assessment if 5 or more acres is devoted to production of crops, forestry, livestock and the like. Eligible properties must also achieve production of farm / forest crops equating to $500 – $1000 per year for that first five acres: Additional income per-acre beyond the
1st five is needed as well. In the case of wooded or substantially-wooded farms, a specific Woodland Management Plan or Forest Stewardship Plan must be submitted to your local tax assessor and the NJDEP Forest Service at the commencement of the forest management.
Annually, an Application for Farmland Assessment must be filed by August 1st of the pre-tax calendar year. The land must have been in active horticultural or agricultural use for two years prior to being considered for farmland assessment rates
Your local tax assessor can give you more specific information on what your property taxes would be if your land were to be taxed as a Category 3B “Qualified Farm”.
A list of local tax assessors can be accessed here.
General Farmland Tax Assessment Resources
2018 FEC Productivity Values Booklet & Tables,
NJ Assessors Guide, May, 2014
Guidelines for Generally Accepted Agricultural/Horticultural
Practices Under Farmland Assessment, NJ Div. Taxation, 2014
NJ Farmland Assessment Guide, 2005
The Right-to-Farm Act in New Jersey: A Guidebook for Farmers, Neighbors & Municipalities. [NJ SADC, June 2016]
NJ Farmland Assessment Act – Know the Facts [NJAES, April 2009]