BC Changes Farm Assessment Classification System

The Province is establishing new rules for the split-classification assessment system for farm properties to boost local food production and support small-scale farms,

The change is among the recommendations put forth by the Farm Assessment Review Panel, which the Province established in February 2008 in response to feedback from the farming community and stakeholders.

The Province is significantly reducing the tax burden on farm properties by eliminating the split classification of farm properties on the Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR) that are not used for other purposes; and eliminating the split classification for non ALR properties where at least 50 per cent of the property is in or contributes to production, or 25 per cent is in production and meets a higher income threshold.

The panel’s recommendations for the 2011 assessment roll will be strongly considered by government for implementation over the next year.

For more information on the Farm Assessment Review Panel’s report, go to http://www.farmassessmentreview.ca/