Farm, Forest and Open Space Act forest land classification
馃嚭馃嚫 RI, United States 路 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Forest Environment, with town tax assessors
Managed woodland of 10 or more acres is assessed at its current-use value (recommended maximum $115 per acre) instead of its value as buildable land
Under Chapter 44-27 of the Rhode Island General Laws, land enrolled in the Farm, Forest and Open Space (FFOS) program is assessed at its current use rather than its development value. For forest land, the State Conservation Committee's recommended maximum value is $115 per acre for all DEM-certified managed woodlands. The law's stated purpose is to conserve productive farm and forest land; it does not guarantee a tax cut, only that assessment is based on current use. Farm and open space classifications exist too (farm: 5 acres and $2,500 in farm income; open space: 10 acres, assessed at 10 to 30 percent of fair market value depending on soils).
Who qualifies
Forest classification requires 10 acres or more of undeveloped land, not counting the zoned house lot (or 1 acre, whichever is smaller); plantations must have at least 500 trees per acre and be at least one year old; the forest must be actively managed under a written forest management plan approved by the DEM Division of Forest Environment's Stewardship Forester, with recertification every 5 years and a new plan every 10 years.
How to apply
Have your town tax assessor sign the application form and submit it with your management plan to the DEM Stewardship Forester (Fern Graves, 401-539-2356 x2, fern.graves@dem.ri.gov). Farm applications go through the Conservation District and DEM Division of Agriculture (401-222-2781); open space applications go directly to the tax assessor. The Citizen's Guide to the Farm, Forest, and Open Space Act has full details.
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