Ventura, CA – During their special meeting on Tuesday, December 17, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to approve changes to the Land Conservation Act (LCA) program, in order to lower property taxes and provide financial relief to agricultural landowners. The approved changes to the LCA are designed to provide support to Ventura County agricultural producers and assist landowners who have open space-zoned land use their property for farming or grazing while providing savings on their property taxes.
The action taken by the Board of Supervisors has allowed for an expansion of the LCA program, allowing more landowners to join the program. Also known as the Williamson Act, the LCA program has been in place since 1969. It allows landowners to pay lower property taxes if they keep their land used for farming, animal grazing, or open space. The program supports agriculture and helps protect natural resources in the county.
“We’re excited to expand this program and offer more agricultural landowners the chance to benefit from lower property taxes,” said 3rd District Supervisor, Kelly Long, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This will be an incentive to continue to generate thriving agricultural production in Ventura County and show our strong support for ag producers. Through this action, we are indicating that we understand the need to provide opportunities for agricultural landowners to save money while continuing to support farming and wildlife conservation in our community.”
Previously, only agricultural-zoned land could qualify for the LCA program. With these new changes, owners of Open Space-zoned properties (land used for things like wildlife habitat or natural areas) can now apply for the LCA program if they meet certain requirements, such as for farming if the land is 20 acres or larger and is used for growing crops; and grazing if the land is 160 acres or larger and is used for raising animals. The new changes remove the need for landowners to rezone their property to join the program. This means property owners can save both time and money by avoiding the cost of changing their zoning designation.
By entering the LCA program, property owners will pay lower property taxes on land used for farming or grazing. This helps keep agricultural lands and open spaces protected while offering financial relief to landowners. The changes also make the application process easier for landowners by removing some outdated requirements and providing clearer guidelines. This makes it simpler for property owners to understand the program and apply for the tax savings they deserve.
“Ventura County farmers and ranchers are immensely grateful for the County’s support of the Williamson Act, which helps reduce property taxes and enables them to keep their land in agricultural use,” shared Korinne Bell, Agricultural Commissioner. “This program is vital to their livelihoods and ensures the preservation of Ventura County’s farming legacy for generations to come. We appreciate the Board of Supervisors’ continued commitment to sustaining local agriculture.”
These changes are a win for both property owners and the county. For property owners, the LCA program helps reduce costs associated with land management, making it more affordable to maintain agricultural activities or natural open spaces. For the County, the changes help ensure that important agricultural and open space lands remain protected, supporting local farming and the environment.
The County will continue to work closely with property owners to help them take advantage of these new opportunities and guide them through the process of applying for the LCA program. Property owners interested in learning more can contact Alec Thille, Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Department of Agriculture at alec.thille@ventura.org.
