I.The four requirements of this program

1. Ownership
2. Acreage
3. Income
4. Sound Management

II. Ownership

1. Individual
   1. Must either live on the property, or
   2. Have owned the property the four years prior to making application
   3. Another way to qualify is, if at the transfer of title to the present owner
      a. the property was under or
          eligible for land use
      b. the present owner already
          owned land under land use
   4. Relative
      a. Spouse
      b. Lineal ancestor (father, grandmother)
      c. Lineal descendant (son, granddaughter)
      d. Brother or sister including a
          stepbrother or stepsister
      e. Adopted or adoptive child, parent, etc.
2. Corporation
   1. Principal business must be farming, foresting, etc. (as stated in their articles of incorporation)
   2. All shareholders are natural persons actively engaged in the operation of the farm
   3. Or a relative of a shareholder who is actively engaged in the corporation's business

II. Acreage

1. Agriculture
   1. Consists of one or more tracts
   2. One tract must have at least 10 acres in active production
   3. Brings in woodland and wasteland
   4. Can cross county lines
2. Horticulture
   1. Consists of one or more tracts
   2. One tract must have at least 5 acres in active production
   3. Brings in woodland and wasteland
   4. Can cross county lines
3. Forestry
   1. Consists of one or more tracts
   2. One tract must have at least 20 acres in active production
   3. Brings in wasteland only
   4. Can cross county lines

III. Income (Agricultural and horticultural only)

1. Average of $1,000 for past three years
2. Be used to produce evergreens for use as Christmas trees and have met the qualifying income for the land
3. Income includes:
   1. Sale of all products grown on the land
   2. Federal conservation reserve program subsidies
   3. Cash rents are not included
   4. No income requirements for forestry

IV. Sound Management

1. Greatest net return consistent with:
   1. Its conservation
   2. Long term improvement
2. The assessor is required to audit a proportionate share of all the properties under land use during each year of the revaluation cycle.

V. Appeal Process

1. Any disqualification by the assessor may be appealed to County Board of Equalization and Review
2. That decision may be appealed to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission, Court of Appeals, etc.

VI. Notice of Change of Use

1. Taxpayer's responsibility to notify county upon a change of use
2. Subject to penalty of 10% of total amount of deferred taxes and interest
3. Must notify the County during the regular listing period

VII. Deferred Value

1. Determined by the difference between the appraised value from last revaluation less the amount of land use valuation
2. Both valuations shall continue in effect until a change in either appraisal is required (change in acreage, ownership, etc.)