New York’s Agricultural Districts Law, Article 25-AA PDF of NYS Agriculture and Markets Law was enacted in 1971 to help keep farmland in agricultural production.
Agricultural Districts are a locally designated geographic area of predominately viable agricultural land.
Agricultural Districts are designed to protect viable agricultural lands through a combination of incentives and protections that discourage the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.
Agricultural Districts do not preserve farmland, or regulate land use, in the sense that the use of land is restricted to agricultural production. Rather, they provide benefits that help make and keep farming as a viable economic activity, thereby maintaining land in active agricultural use.
Being in an Agricultural District does not directly reduce or increase tax assessments—agricultural landowners can apply to the local tax assessor for an annual agricultural assessment.
(https://www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/assess/valuation/agindex.htm)
Onondaga County formed its first agricultural district in 1973. Today there are four agricultural districts totaling approximately 20,0485 acres that encompass virtually every town in Onondaga County.
Click below to access the NYS Ag District Brochure
Agriculture District Benefits
- the obligation of State agencies, as a matter of policy, to encourage the maintenance of viable farming in agricultural districts
- limitations on the exercise of eminent domain and other public acquisitions, and the advance of public funds for certain construction activities
- limitations on the siting of solid waste management facilities on land dedicated to agricultural production
- limitations on the power to impose benefit assessments, special ad valorem levies, or other rates or fees in certain improvement districts or benefit areas
- requirements that direct local governments to realize the intent of the Agricultural Districts Law and to avoid unreasonable restrictions in the regulation of farm operations when exercising their powers to enact and administer comprehensive plans, local laws, ordinances, rules and/or regulations
- requirements that applications for certain planning and zoning actions impacting a designated farm operation within an agricultural district, or on lands within five hundred feet of such farm operation within an agricultural district, include an agricultural data statement designed to allow the review agency to evaluate any possible impacts of the proposed action on farm operations
- establishes a land classification system used to assign agricultural assessment values to qualified properties both within and outside district boundaries
- creates a process for the review of agricultural practices
- discourages private nuisance lawsuits arising from agricultural practices determined to be sound
- provides for advisory opinions as to whether particular land uses are agricultural in nature
- and requires disclosure to prospective grantees of real property that the property is in an agricultural district
Agriculture District Map (2023)
Eight-Year Reviews
Every eight years an agricultural district is required to be reviewed for agricultural viability by the County and recertified by NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, a process referred to as “renewal.” Landowners can request to remove or add viable agricultural land between January 1 – 30 of the renewal year.
Renewal Schedule
District 1 – 2026
District 2 – 2028
District 3 – 2030
District 4 – 2032
Process
The County publishes a legal review notice in local newspapers, and also publishes notices on this web page, in area municipal offices, and in the offices of various agricultural-service providers.
The County also mails the notice to each landowner that has property already enrolled in the district. The mailing includes a personalized request form that lists each enrolled property that they own. The landowner can request to remove enrolled property and/or add viable agricultural property by returning the request form during January 1 – 30 of the review year.
Landowners who do not receive a mailing but would like to remove and/or add property to the district can also submit a request form during January 1 – 30 of the review year.
Affected municipalities and landowners who ultimately request to add and/or remove property receive notifications for County Legislature public hearings and findings, and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets certification.
The Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) reviews the district’s agricultural viability together with any removal and addition requests, and makes a recommendation to ultimately continue, terminate, or modify the district boundaries. The final report is submitted to the Onondaga County Legislature for their consideration and following a public hearing they make their findings.
The AFPB report and the County Legislature findings are forwarded to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for review and recertification.
The full process typically takes seven to nine months.
Current and Completed Eight-Year Reviews
Agriculture District 4: 2024 Eight-Year Review and Recertification
Agriculture District 3: 2022 Eight-Year Review and Recertification
Agriculture District 2: 2020 Eight-Year Review and Recertification
Agriculture District 1: 2018 Eight-Year Review and Recertification
Agriculture District Annual Additions
Landowners can request to add viable agriculture land to any agricultural district during the annual January 1 – January 30 open enrollment period.
Notices submitted to local newspapers are also published on this web page, in area municipal offices, and in the offices of various agricultural-service providers.
Affected municipalities and landowners who request to add property to an Agricultural District receive notifications for County Legislature public hearings and findings, and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets certification.
The Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) reviews any requests, makes a recommendation, and prepares a report. The AFPB report is then submitted to the Onondaga County Legislature for their consideration and following a public hearing they make their findings.
The AFPB report and the County Legislature findings are forwarded to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for review and recertification.
The full process typically takes seven to nine months.
Click below to access the Annual Open Enrollment Form
Annual Additions
January 1 – January 30, 2026
Resources & Links
> NYS Agriculture & Markets Law Chapter 69, Article 25-AA, Agricultural Districts
https://agriculture.ny.gov/land-and-water/agricultural-districts
> NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Agricultural Districts Program
https://agriculture.ny.gov/land-and-water/agricultural-districts
> NYS Annual Agricultural Assessment
https://www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/assess/valuation/agindex.htm)
