What does the Williamson Act do?
The Williamson Act, also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use.
How do I know if a property is in Williamson Act?
California Land Conservation Act or Williamson Act
- Look on your tax bill for the breakdown of assessed value.
- Parcel maps are notated with “AP” and the Ag Preserve contract number if they are in the Act or “FSZ” if is enrolled in a Farmland Security Zone.
Can you build a house on Williamson Act land?
Not necessarily. Homesites are allowed on contracted land but are limited in purpose and number and must be related to the agricultural use of the land. In addition, any homesite on land subject to a Williamson Act contract must be in compliance with local uniform rules or ordinances.
How do you qualify for the Williamson Act?
To qualify for a Williamson Act Contract a parcel must be zoned Agriculture Preserve (AP) or Agricultural Watershed (AW); be a minimum of size of 10 acres for prime agricultural land; or be a minimum size of 40 acres and less suited to intensive agricultural production; and contain a bona fide agricultural use (see …
How much does Williamson Act save?
The Williamson Act is estimated to save agricultural landowners from 20 percent to 75 percent in property tax liability each year. Many counties offer a Williamson Act calculator to determine the value of a contract.
Can you get out of Williamson Act?
Williamson Act contracts are terminated by filing a notice of non-renewal with the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. The landowner must give the County written notice of his/her desire not to renew the contract by October 1 (at least 90 days prior to the January 1 renewal date.)
What is the Williamson Act tax rate?
When approved, the landowner must pay a onetime fee of 12.5 percent of the full market value of the property.
How do I remove land from Williamson Act?
Cancellation. A landowner must submit an application to the City or County requesting the contract be cancelled for a portion or the entirety of the contracted area. See the Contract Cancellations page for detailed information and constraints.
Why was the Williamson Act created?
The California Legislature passed the Williamson Act in 1965 to preserve agricultural and open space lands by discouraging premature and unnecessary conversion to urban uses.