Overview

The Person County Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) programs were established under the Person County Farmland Preservation Ordinance.  The Person County Agricultural Advisory Board (AAB) is responsible for overseeing these programs in assistance with Soil & Water staff. 

The VAD/EVAD programs do not keep land from being developed, but instead encourages the preservation and protection of farmland from non-farm development.  It also creates a sense of community among rural landowners while recognizing the importance of agriculture to the economic and social well-being of Person County.

Requirements

In order for farmland to qualify for the VAD/EVAD program, it must be real property located in Person County that meets the following requirements:

1. Is used for bona fide farm purposes, as that term is defined in G.S. 106-743.4(a) and G.S. 160D-903
2. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices that are addressed to said highly erodible land
3. The property will be subject of a conservation agreement as defined in G.S. 121-35 that prohibits nonfarm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten (10) years, except for the creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet applicable zoning and subdivision regulations

Minimum Acreage Requirements

Enrolled land must meet one of the following minimum acreage requirements:

• Twenty (20) contiguous acres of qualified forest land
• Ten (10) contiguous acres of qualified farm land
• Five (5) contiguous acres of qualified horticultural land

VAD/EVAD Benefits

• Recognition & public education about agriculture.  Enrollees of the program will post signs identifying their farm as a VAD/EVAD, indicating to any potential neighbors and passersby that your land is committed to the preservation of the agriculture way of life.
• Decrease the likelihood of legal disputes, such as nuisance actions between farm owners and their neighbors.  Notice on the property signaling VAD/EVAD membership and a notice in the computerized land record system (GIS) making those within a ½ mile of a VAD/EVAD farm aware of the potential for noise, odor, dust, or slow moving farm vehicles associated with farming.
• Waiver of water and sewer assessments.  Landowners within the program who are not connected to water or sewer systems operated by the county can have water & sewer assessments waived.
• Public hearings required for proposed condemnation.  Public hearings held by the AAB if the land in the program is considered for a public project that may condemn land.
• Eligibility for funding.  District members may be eligible for farmland preservation funds as local, state, or federal funds become available.

Additional EVAD Program Benefits

In addition to the above listed benefits, EVAD members also have the following benefits:

• Eligibility to sale non-farm products.  Enrollees are eligible to sale non-farm products up to 25% of gross sales and still qualify as a bona fide farm
• Waiver of county utility assessments.  Landowners within the EVAD program who are not connected to utility systems operated by the county can have utility assessments waived
• Eligibility for higher cost share funding.  Land enrolled in an EVAD program allows for 90% cost share assistance for state cost share programs
• Higher ranking and priority for  grants and program.  EVAD members are ranked higher for NCDA grants and given priority consideration from other state agencies 

Please contact the Soil & Water Department to apply for the VAD or EVAD program.