Forms
	The most recent version of available forms will be provided here as Adobe Acrobat or portable document format (.pdf) documents and, when possible, as Microsoft Word template documents as a convenience to program administrators and for landowners interested in making specific requests for which they are eligible. Information contained on these forms is useful to understand the review process and the conditions to be met for approval of requests. All requests using these forms must first be submitted to your county’s program administrator for local review. After local review, the county will forward your requests to the Foundation for consideration. Unless otherwise indicated, please do not submit requests directly to the Foundation. Please consult with your local program administrator before using these forms. Forms will be posted as they become available (the link will become active). Thank you! Change of Ownership. When the title transfers or otherwise changes on a district or easement property, please provide a copy of this form to the county program administrator and to the Foundation. District Agreement. When a landowner petitions to create an agricultural preservation district, this is the agreement to restrict development on the property that is signed by the Foundation and the landowner and recorded in the county land records. While petitions to create an agricultural preservation district are accepted any time, if you intend to apply to sell an easement by the July 1 deadline, you should petition the county to establish the district no later than May 1 to meet the requirement to have the district approved before the easement application deadline. District petitions also require the Property Description form below. District agreements will not be required as a precondition to apply to sell an easement to the Foundation as of July 1, 2007, unless required by the county in which the property is located. If a district agreement is required by the county as part of the application process, the district will be established by the landowner at the county level. Property Description. This form must be included with your District Agreement as part of your petition to the county to establish the agricultural preservation district. You will probably need the county program administrator to help you complete this form. If you apply to sell an easement to the Foundation on or after July 1, 2007, please consult with the county program administrator about the required forms. Easement Application and Instructions for Completing the Application to Sell an Easement. This application to sell an agricultural conservation easement to the Foundation should be completed and submitted with the required documentation to the county program administrator no later than July 1 for the offer cycle of that fiscal year. Offers are usually made by the Foundation late the following winter or early spring. A second file provides instructions for filling out the application. A Microsoft Word template version of this easement application is also available that can be downloaded and completed on the computer. To download this file on a PC, right-click on the following link and use the command “Save Target As…” To download this file on a Macintosh, hold down the “control” key while clicking the mouse, using the command “Save File As…” MS-Word Easement Application Template. If you apply to sell an easement to the Foundation on or after July 1, 2007, please consult with the county program administrator about the required forms. Owner’s or Child’s Lot Release Request. If you are the original landowner whose option contract to purchase the easement was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works before October 1, 2003, OR if you are the original landowner who placed your property in a district before October 1, 2003, and you have not sold an easement, you are eligible to request the release of one owner’s lot and/or lots for your children within certain guidelines using this request form. Please also see Lot Location Policy. Family Lot Release Request. The original landowner whose option contract to purchase the easement was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works after October 1, 2003, is given a choice when applying to sell an agricultural conservation easement to the Foundation to retain eligibility to request up to three family lots (one lot for the personal use of the owner and/or two or three for the personal use of the owner’s children) or one unrestricted lot. This same choice is available to the original landowner who placed his or her property in a district after October 1, 2003, and who has not sold an easement. If you have chosen the family lot option or if you are a district owner and wish to request a lot release under the family lot option, please use this form to request the release of a family lot. Please also see Lot Location Policy. Unrestricted Lot Release Request. The original landowner whose option contract to purchase the easement was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works after October 1, 2003, is given a choice when applying to sell an agricultural conservation easement to the Foundation to retain eligibility to request up to three family lots (one lot for the personal use of the owner and/or two or three for the personal use of the owner’s children) or one unrestricted lot. This same choice is available to the original landowner who placed his or her property in a district after October 1, 2003, and who has not sold an easement. If you have chosen the unrestricted lot option or if you are a district owner and wish to request a lot release under the unrestricted lot option, please use this form to request the release of an unrestricted lot. Please also see Lot Location Policy. Tenant House Request. Under current regulations, landowners are eligible to request one tenant house per full 100 acres to be used exclusively by a tenant fully engaged in the operation of the farm. Such a house cannot be used as a rental, as an owner’s dwelling, as a caretaker’s cottage, or by anyone not fully engaged in the operation of the farm. This dwelling cannot be subdivided from the property. Agricultural Subdivision Request. Under current regulations, landowners can request the subdivision of their property for an agricultural purpose, under certain conditions. Please see Agricultural Subdivision Policy. Request to Exclude a One-Acre Lot around a Pre-Existing Dwelling (old form). If you are the original landowner whose option contract to purchase the easement was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works before October 1, 2003, OR if you are the original landowner who placed your property in a district before October 1, 2003, and you have not sold an easement, you are eligible to request the release of a one-acre lot around any dwelling existing on the property at the time of easement sale OR, if an easement has not been sold, at the time of district establishment, within certain guidelines using this request form.
HOME PAGE OVERVIEW FACT SHEETS: About Maryland's Agricultural Land Preservation Program AGENDAS: Meetings of the MALPF Board of Trustees MINUTES: Meetings of the MALPF Board of Trustees LEGISLATION: Status of Current or Recent Legislation Introduced to the General Assembly affecting MALPF LEGAL DOCUMENTS: Relevant Annotated Code, Regulations, and the Deed of Easement FORMS: - Change of Ownership - District Agreement - Property Description - Easement Application and Instructions - Owner’s or Child’s Lot Release Request (easement approved before 10-2003) - Family Lot Release Request (easement approved after 10-2003) - Unrestricted Lot Release Request (easement approved after 10-2003) - Tenant House Request - Agricultural Subdivision Request - Pre-Existing Dwelling Lot Exclusion Request (easement approved before 10-2003) - Pre-Existing Dwelling Lot Exclusion Request (easement approved after 10-2003) - District Termination Request (severe economic hardship) - Wastewater Spray Irrigation Request REPORTS: Annual Reports and Policy Reports and Documents BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONTACT INFORMATION: -Program Administrators -Foundation Staff LINKS: -Other State Land Preservation Resources -County Land Preservation Resources
	Request to Exclude a One-Acre Lot around a Pre-Existing Dwelling (new form). If you are the original landowner whose option contract to purchase the easement was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works after October 1, 2003, OR if you are the original landowner who placed your property in a district after October 1, 2003, and you have not sold an easement, you are eligible to request the release of a one-acre lot around any dwelling existing on the property at the time of easement sale OR, if an easement has not been sold, at the time of district establishment, within certain guidelines using this request form. If you have or are choosing the family lot option, the exclusion of a lot around a pre-existing dwelling can only be for the personal use of a family member qualifying for a family lot and will use up eligibility for a family lot from the total possible on the property. If you have or are choosing the unrestricted lot option, the lot around a pre-existing dwelling can be excluded for anyone and will extinguish unrestricted lot eligibility on the property. (See the discussion in Fact Sheet 4: “Development Options Retained in District and Easement Properties.”)
	Request for District Termination Due to Severe Economic Hardship. Under extremely unusual circumstances of severe economic hardship, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees will consider the early termination of a five-year district agreement. Severe economic hardship normally implies demonstrating proof of bankruptcy or imminent bankruptcy in combination with evidence that early termination of the district agreement will help resolve the economic hardship. Such requests must first be made to the county for review and will then be considered in executive session by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Requests must be fully documented and are approved only under exceptional circumstances. Requests will not be considered for the termination of easement restrictions due to economic hardship.
	Request to Overlay a Forest Conservation Easement. Landowners from Counties which have established policy that allows a Forest Conservation Easement to overlay a Foundation easement or district may make a request. Please see Forest Mitigation Policy. Request to Use Wastewater Spray Irrigation. Some county and municipal governments have instituted projects for the alternative disposal of wastewater by spray irrigation on agricultural properties. If your property is in the MALPF program, is targeted as part of a local government project, and you wish to participate in that project, you are responsible for obtaining approval for participation from the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Easement Inspection Form – For County Program Administrators Use Only. MALPF requires monitoring of 10% of the easements during the fiscal year. This is in addition to the annual monitoring requirement for the Federal Farmland Protection Program. County Program Administrators may use this form and submit copies to Kimberly Hoxter, Monitoring & Enforcement Coordinator. [A Microsoft Word template version is also available – it can be downloaded and completed on the computer. To download this file on a PC, right-click on the following link and use the command “Save Target As…” To download this file on a Macintosh, hold down the “control” key while clicking the mouse, using the command “Save File As…” MS-Word Inspection Form Template.
	These forms are public documents and are provided for general information only. If you have a question about a specific law, regulation, policy, or provision of the district agreement, option contract, deed of easement, or any of these forms, please consult legal counsel. Last revision: March 31, 2008. info@malpf.info
	STATE OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Martin O'Malley, Governor Anthony G. Brown, Lt. Governor Roger L. Richardson, Secretary Earl F. "Buddy" Hance, Deputy Secretary Maryland Department of Agriculture Home Page http://www.malpf.info/forms.html