Preserving Farmland and Rural Heritage in Virginia Beach

For nearly 30 years, the City’s Agricultural Reserve Program (ARP) has helped protect farmland and open spaces for future generations. This past fiscal year (FY 2025), the program exceeded its annual goal for land preservation, and 2026 is looking good as well.  

A Strong Year for Farmland Preservation

The Agricultural Advisory Commission met this month at the Creeds Ruritan Community Complex to share a preview of the program’s progress: 467 acres enrolled, well over the 300-acre-per-year goal.

Strong, stable interest rates throughout the year made participation in the program especially appealing to landowners considering preservation options. The total protected farmland now exceeds 11,000 acres since the program began in 1995.  

How the Program Works 

Through the ARP, the City purchases preservation easements from landowners whose property meets specific criteria. The easements permanently prevent development, ensuring that the land stays available for agriculture, forestry or open space.

Participating landowners are compensated through 25-year installment, tax-free interest payments and a final payment at the end of the term. This gives both property owners a reliable income stream and protects land for agricultural use – the City’s third-largest industry after tourism and the military.  
 
The program is funded by a dedicated portion of the real estate tax, along with support from state farmland preservation grants. Additionally, $990,000 is directed annually to stormwater and flood-prevention projects in the southern watershed.    

Looking Ahead  

Enrollment for FY 2026 is moving forward with six applications expected to preserve another 587 acres, and at least seven applications are in line for review.  
 
As Virginia Beach continues to balance growth with conservation, the Agricultural Reserve Program remains an important initiative that works to preserve the rural landscape and sustain the City’s agricultural legacy.  
 
Learn more about eligibility, benefits and how to apply at VirginiaBeach.gov/ARP. 

• Agricultural Reserve Program