How Farmland Preservation Works in PA
How Farmland Preservation Works in PA
Preservation is the option a lot of farm families don’t fully understand. You don’t sell the farm. You sell the right to develop it.
I’m Collin Boyer. I sell farms, and I also build homes, build or place manufactured homes, and develop and subdivide land. So your options aren’t only sell or don’t sell. You can list it, sell it directly to me, or split off a lot and build.
How it works
You sell a conservation easement, the development rights, to the state and county program.
You keep the farm. You can farm it, pass it down or sell it.
The easement stays with the land when it changes hands, so nobody can turn it into a subdivision later (PA Department of Agriculture).
The scale in PA
Since 1988: 6,759 farms and 669,854 acres preserved (PDA, Aug 21 2026).
How payment is set
The easement value is based on an appraisal of your farm’s development rights. Recent state rounds have included farms in York, Adams and Lancaster counties (PDA). Some townships add their own incentive on top.
Maryland’s version
Maryland’s state program, MALPF, works the same basic way. Budget cuts merged its FY25 and FY26 cycles, so fewer easements are coming (MALPF annual report). Counties run their own programs too.
Is preservation right for you?
It makes sense when:
- You want the land to stay a farm.
- You want cash without selling the farm.
- A developer’s offer is too uncertain, or not what you want for the land.
It may not be right when:
- You need the full development value now.
- The family wants the option to develop later.
The honest comparison
Preservation and a developer sale are very different deals. With preservation you keep the land, and the payment is more certain. Put every option next to each other before you decide: preserving, listing, selling directly, or splitting off a lot.
Call or text Collin at 717-991-5085.
Lancaster County leads the nation in preserved farmland (American Farmland Trust). York, Cumberland, Franklin and Lebanon counties all have active county preservation programs too.
FAQ
How does farmland preservation work in Pennsylvania?
You sell the development rights (a conservation easement) to the state/county program. You keep ownership and can still farm, sell or pass on the land. The easement stays with the deed permanently.
How is the farmland preservation payment set in PA?
It’s based on an appraisal of each farm’s development rights. Some townships add incentives.
Can I sell a preserved farm in PA?
Yes. Preserved farms can be sold or inherited. The buyer takes the farm with the easement, so it can’t be developed.
Sources:
- American Farmland Trust, State of Farmland Preservation (Lancaster County)
- PDA, Aug 21 2026
- Lancaster Farming
- MALPF FY2025
Collin Boyer is a real estate agent with Real of Pennsylvania, serving all of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Licensed in Pennsylvania (RS353567) and Maryland (5014481). Call or text 717-991-5085. Real of Pennsylvania · (717) 344-5577. Equal Housing Opportunity. This post is general information, not legal or tax advice.