Current Use Taxation
Maine’s Farm & Open Space Tax Law
If you own agricultural or open space land, this information will prepare you to negotiate a land reclassification and revaluation with your assessor.
- Maine’s Farm and Open Space Tax Program guarantees landowners the right to have farm and open space lands valued at current use rather than development potential
- Generally, valuing land at current use will reduce property taxes.
- Landowners may enroll parcels in either or both the farm and open space classifications.
- Once land is enrolled in either classification, it cannot be assessed as having additional “phantom house lots”.
- This voluntary program is a fundamental way for communities and landowners to work together to prevent farmland and natural open space from being converted to other uses.
- To obtain the Farm and Open Space Tax Bulletin and the application forms for farmland and/or open space enrollment visit www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax or call (207) 287-2013. Applications are due to your town by April 1st of the year you desire a change in the land classification and valuation.
For additional assistance call Stephanie Gilbert at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources at (207) 287-7520.