Carroll County Agriculture Land Preservation Program

The Carroll County Agriculture Land Preservation Program is administered by the Carroll County Office of Land Management in Maryland. The program is one of several local initiatives designed to protect agricultural resources and sustain the county’s long-standing farming heritage. Carroll County has established itself as a national leader in farmland preservation, ranking among the top programs in the United States and the most successful in Maryland. Since its inception in 1980, the program has contributed to the preservation of approximately 82,000 acres, with a long-term goal of conserving at least 100,000 acres of agricultural land. The initiative reflects the county’s commitment to maintaining agriculture as a foundational component of its economy, environment, and community identity. The primary purpose of the program is to preserve farmland and forestland by compensating property owners for the development rights associated with their land. Through the purchase of conservation easements, the county ensures that preserved properties remain dedicated to agricultural use in perpetuity. These easements are legally recorded in the Carroll County Land Records and restrict future non-agricultural development. Funding provided through the program effectively offsets the opportunity cost of development, thereby incentivizing landowners to maintain agricultural operations while protecting open space and rural character. Eligible applicants include property owners with at least 30 acres of farm or forestland that possess development potential. While the minimum acreage requirement is 30 acres, properties exceeding 60 acres are prioritized during the evaluation process. Applications are assessed based on several criteria, including soil quality and other agricultural value indicators. The program also considers the strategic importance of preserving contiguous farmland, meaning that smaller farms adjacent to already preserved land may still be viable candidates if they contribute to broader preservation goals. The application process is administered directly through the Carroll County Agricultural Land Preservation Program office. Interested landowners must obtain and complete an application, which can be requested by mail or accessed electronically. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year; however, formal evaluation cycles occur within defined windows. For the 2026 cycle, applications will be accepted between July 1 and August 31. Submissions received outside of this window may be held for consideration in future funding cycles unless the property qualifies for immediate review, such as those located within designated Rural Legacy Areas where grant funding is available. Applicants are encouraged to engage with program staff prior to submission to discuss eligibility and program options. Key contacts include the Program Manager and Preservation Specialist, who can provide guidance on application requirements and preservation pathways. Communication can occur via email or phone, and staff support is positioned as an integral part of the application process. This pre-submission engagement helps ensure that applicants understand program expectations and can prepare competitive submissions. The program does not explicitly outline a fixed award timeline or performance period, as the nature of funding is tied to the completion of conservation easements rather than traditional grant disbursement cycles. Similarly, no matching requirement is specified in the available information. While applications are accepted annually with defined intake periods, the program operates continuously as part of the county’s long-term preservation strategy. This recurring structure ensures that new applicants have ongoing opportunities to participate in future cycles as the county progresses toward its acreage preservation goal.

Contact program staff early to confirm eligibility and improve application strength