Agriculture

Application

Applications can be filed at the St. Lucie County Property Appraiser's Office between January 1 and March 1. All documentation pertinent to the agricultural use should be included with the application.

Upon receiving your application, the property appraiser or his representative will inspect your property and review the supporting information prior to making a determination. Annual inspections are also performed on all classified properties.

 
Application for Agricultural Classification
(DR-482)

Requirements

Property with a bona fide agricultural use present on January 1 will qualify for agricultural classification (formally Green Belt). Bona fide agricultural use means good faith commercial agricultural use of the land.

The St. Lucie County Property Appraiser's Office Considers The Following Criteria When Determining Bona Fide Use:

  1. The length of time the land has been so utilized;
  2. Whether the use has been continuous;
  3. The purchase price paid;
  4. Size, as it relates to the specific agricultural use;
  5. Whether an indicated effort has been made to care sufficiently and adequately for the land in accordance with accepted commercial agricultural practices, including, without limitation: fertilizing, liming, tilling, mowing, reforesting, etc;
  6. Whether such land is under lease and, if so, the effective length, terms, and conditions of the lease; and
  7. Such other factors as may from time to time become applicable.
  8. Zoning- Agriculture must be a legal use under the current zoning on the property. The agricultural use must be a permitted, conditional, or accessory use as determined and regulated by the St. Lucie County Community Development Department.

 

Leases

Property that is leased for agricultural purposes has the same requirements for classification as any other property. It is ultimately the responsibility of the land owner to meet the requirements of bona fide agriculture.

If the property is leased, a copy of the written lease and all supporting documentation must accompany the application. Any change in the terms or conditions of the lease must be made available to the property appraiser's office.

 

Homesite

If there is a homesite on the property being considered for classification, the homesite and all improvements thereon will be assessed at market value. The owner may obtain a homestead exemption if it is his/her primary residence. Please refer to Exemptions for more information.

Notification

If the classification is not granted in its entirety, you will be notified by certified letter no later than July 1 of the calendar year the application is made. This decision may be appealed to the Value Adjustment Board by filing a petition with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The appeal must be filed no later than 30 days following the post mark of the denial notification.

Important

Agricultural Classification is not transferable. If you make any changes to the title; including divorce, trust, remarriage, adding or removing a name, or any changes to the use of the property, it is important to reapply by filing a new application at one of our three locations listed on our HomePage.

Notify us when your address changes !!

If you don't notify the Property Appraiser's Office when you move or change your mailing address, some of your important mail may not reach you.

Dates to Note

  • January 1-- Date of assessment - Tangible returns mailed
  • January 1 to March 1--. Applications for Agricultural Classification are accepted.
  • Mid August -- TRIM notices are mailed
  • November 1 -- Tax bills are mailed