This information is intended to acquaint landowners with the rules and procedures governing an agricultural preserve application. Any landowner considering submitting an application should consult the County of Madera's "Rules and Procedures for Agricultural Preserves" and Government Code Sections 51200 through 51295.

APPLICATION PACKET. This packet of information contains the following materials:

This year's Agricultural Preserve/Farmland Security Zone Calendar: Please refer to this schedule for deadlines for document submission, rezoning of property, or the combination of parcels to make a preserve. It lists the dates for completion of various steps necessary to enter your property in the agricultural preserve.

Application for Agricultural Preserve/Farmland Security Zone: A separate form must be completed for each parcel number you wish to place in the agricultural preserve.

Rural Property Income and Production Questionnaire: Used by the Assessor's Office to determine if the property is prime agricultural land. A separate form must be completed for each parcel number.

Fictitious Agricultural Preserve Contract: Please review this document carefully. If approved, the contract you sign will refer to this document for the terms of the contract. It has already been recorded for use as a reference in this matter.

List of Title Companies: This is a list of title companies in Madera County who will complete the required lot book report. You may use any title company you choose, even if it is not in Madera County.

The Williamson Act: A Summary: This information is a brief summary of the Williamson Act, land uses under the act, and information regarding agricultural preserve requirements.

FILING FOR AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE:
What to File: File the following documents:

Application for Agricultural Preserve/Farmland Security Zone: One for each parcel number requested for inclusion in the agricultural preserve

Rural Property Income and Production Questionnaire: One for each parcel number requested for inclusion in the agricultural preserve

Current Lot Book Report: Prepared by the title company. One report may cover all properties as long as each parcel number is covered individually. It must state the owner(s) of the property and all deeds of trust, security interests, and other similar recorded interests affecting the subject property. A "Current Lot Book Report" is one that has been prepared not more than 45 days prior to its receipt by the County.

Map Showing Location of Subject Property: Also prepared by the title company to accompany the lot book report. The actual location of the property should be pinpointed on the map as it relates to the City of Madera and referred to by the Assessor's Parcel Number.

Nonrefundable Application Fee: $100 per parcel. The check or money order is payable to "County of Madera." Cash is accepted if paid in person.

When to File: The filing period for applications for agricultural preserve/farmland security zone is the first Wednesday of June through the third Wednesday of July of each year. Please refer to the current Agricultural Preserve Calendar for specific dates for this year.

Where to File: Applications are filed in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 200 West 4th Street, Madera, California 93637. They are accepted in person between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. They may also be mailed and must be postmarked by the deadline.

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE/FARMLAND SECURITY ZONE. Please print neatly in dark ink or type the information on the application.

Name(s) of Property Owner(s): All current property owners must be listed on the application. The owners must be listed on the application exactly as listed on the lot book report.

Corporations. The name of the corporation must be on the application. An authorized officer of the corporation must sign the application on behalf of the corporation.

Partnerships. The name of the partnership must be on the application. All general partners must sign the application on behalf of the partnership.

Trusts. The name of the trust must be on the application. All trustees must sign the application as trustees.

Attorney-in-Fact: Any person acting as attorney-in-fact for an owner of land may sign the application as attorney-in-fact. The attorney-in-fact document must either be recorded in Madera County and referenced in the lot book report or a copy of the document must be submitted with the application.

Address/Telephone: Mailing address and daytime telephone numbers must be listed for each owner. All correspondence will be processed through the person shown first on the application unless another person is designated in a letter attached to the application.

Assessor's Parcel Number (APN): The APN should be listed as it appears on your property tax bill (generally, twelve digits shown as follows: xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx).

Acreage: The acreage is listed as shown on your tax bill. If not shown, contact the Assessor's Office at 675-7710 for this information.

Location: The location should be given as if you were giving directions to the property, so someone can find the physical location, rather than by its legal description. (e.g., "On the north side of Avenue 00, one mile west of Road 00").

Use: Listed as "row crops", "grazing", "orchard", "vineyard", etc., as well as the specific crop or type of orchard.

Land Classification: The land classification is a combination of Madera County requirements and those requirements set forth in Government Code Sections 51200 through 51295. Read each section carefully before checking the type of land classification.

1. You must first decide if the property is "Prime Agricultural Land." "Prime Agricultural Land" is defined as follows:
   1. All land which qualifies for rating of Class I or Class II in the Soil Conservation Service land use capability classifications.
   2. Land which qualifies for rating of 80 through 100 in the Storie Index Rating.
   3. Land which supports livestock used for the production of food and fiber and which has an annual carrying capacity equivalent to at least one animal unit per acre as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.
   4. Land planted with fruit- or nut-bearing trees; vines; or bushes; or crops which have a nonbearing period of less than five years and which will normally return during the commercial bearing period on an annual basis from the production of unprocessed agricultural plant production not less than $200 per acre.
   5. Land which has returned from the production of unprocessed agricultural plant products an annual gross value of not less than $200 per acre for at least three of the previous five years.
2. Once you have decided if the land is prime agricultural land, check the appropriate box in the land classification section. IF YOU CANNOT MATCH YOUR PARCEL WITH ONE OF THESE BOXES, YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR AN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE/FARMLAND SECURITY ZONE. If one of those boxes does not match, you must decide if you want to go forward with the application process. Check with the Planning Department (675-7821) to see if there are measures that can be taken to qualify your land for an agricultural preserve.
3. While the Board of Supervisors may establish smaller preserves, this is highly disfavored.

COMPLETING THE RURAL PROPERTY INCOME AND PRODUCTION QUESTIONNAIRE. For assistance in completing this form, contact the Assessor's Office at 675-7710. Please be sure to print neatly in dark ink or type the information on the form.

ZONING REQUIREMENTS. All lands in the agricultural preserve
must be zoned ARE (Agricultural, Rural, Exclusive) or AEX (Agricultural Exclusive). Lands not considered prime agricultural land must be rezoned to ARE 160, 320, or 640. Prime agricultural land will be rezoned to ARE 40, 80, 160, 320, or 640 or AEX 40. The fee for rezoning lands is $500 per noncontiguous parcel. Contact the Planning Department at 675-7821 or more information about this process. Check the Agricultural Preserve calendar for deadlines. (NOTE: Failure to file a required zoning application (with necessary fees) by the prescribed deadline will result in termination of contract application processing and no final contract may be considered.)

COMBINING PARCELS. In order for your land to qualify for agricultural preserve, you may need to combine parcels to make the minimum parcel size required. Parcels which are contiguous and have identical ownership may be combined to make larger parcels. This process is initiated through the Assessor's Office. Since all fees are assessed by individual parcel, you may save money by combining your lands into one parcel prior to making application for agricultural preserve. Once this is done, however, you can only redivide it by the parcel map process. Any combinations required for inclusion in the agricultural preserve must be processed by the date of the Planning Commission meeting for rezoning the property. See the Agricultural Preserve Calendar for deadlines.

TITLE COMPANIES IN MADERA COUNTY

The following list contains the names of title companies in Madera County you may wish to contact for preparation of the required lot book report for an agricultural preserve application. You are free to choose any title company, whether it is located in Madera County or elsewhere. This list has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of one title company over another.

CHICAGO TITLE COMPANY
CONTACT: TIM LEWIS
2510 S. East Avenue, Suite 600
Fresno, CA 93706
457-2311

FIRST AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY
413 W. Yosemite Avenue
Madera, CA 93637
675-9401

To Contact The Board
Please address all correspondence and other items to:

County of Madera
Board of Supervisors
Supervisor (Name)
200 West 4th Street
Madera, California 93637
Map this location for me

By Telephone (559) 675-7700
By Fax (559) 673-3302
By Email