Land Use Program

What is the Land Use Program?

Virginia law and County Code allows eligible agricultural, horticultural, forest and open space land to be taxed based on the land's use value as opposed to the land's market value.  Currently, 69 counties and 18 cities in Virginia have adopted local use value ordinances.

The County of Roanoke adopted the Land Use Program on April 22, 1975. This program is designed to encourage the preservation of land, conservation of natural beauty and open spaces within the County. The intent of this program is to accommodate an expanding population, promote a balanced economy and ease pressures that force the conversion of real estate to more intensive uses.

The State Land Evaluation Advisory Committee (SLEAC), establishes a use value per acre for land use parcels within Roanoke County.  The 2003 SLEAC Manual is available in PDF format to download.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted at different times during the year. For more information or to obtain an application, please email the Land Use Coordinator or call at (540) 772-2035 extension 216.  New applications are subject to an enrollment fee of $30, plus .30¢ per acre. This fee is set by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and is subject to change.

Once an application has been received and reviewed, the Land Use Coordinator contacts the property owner to schedule a visit to the property.  If the property meets the program requirements for one or more of the Land Use Categories, it is approved to be in the program for the upcoming tax year.  All Real Estate taxes must be current prior to enrollment in the Land Use Program.

As a participant in the Land Use Program, the property owner is responsible for notifying the Real Estate Valuation Office within 60 days of any change in their land.  Changes could include land splits,transfer of ownership, or change of the use of the land.

Annual Revalidation

In September of each year, all participants in the Land Use program receives a Revalidation form that identifies the parcel of land that is in the program and the current use of the land. All owners must verify that the parcel is still being utilized as noted on the form or if any changes in use had occurred in the past year.

The form must be completed, including the signature of each of the owners, and return it to the Real Estate Valuation Office no later than December 5th of that year. Otherwise, the parcel will be subject to a late fee or removal from the program.  If the parcel is removed from the program, it is subject to a rollback tax.