Louisa County Breaks AFD Application Record
LOUISA, VIRGINIA – Louisa County has broken a record. In just seven months, the County has received 25 Agricultural and Forestal District (AFD) applications representing 9,778.75 acres to enter into agreements to remain agricultural or forestal land for a minimum of 10 years. The last time the County saw a similar level of participation was in 1998, when 9,693 acres were added to AFDs through the creation of the South Anna, Green Springs, and Patrick Henry districts.
The recent increase in participation follows the creation of a new position last year in Louisa County, the Agricultural Development and Land Conservation Coordinator. Maggie Brakeville joined Louisa County in September 2025 as the Agricultural Development and Land Conservation Coordinator and quickly set a high standard for the role, leading outreach efforts to increase program awareness and assisting landowners through the application process.
"We've seen tremendous interest from landowners who want to preserve their properties and safeguard the rural character of the community,” said Brakeville. "The program is completely voluntary and free to participate in, making it an accessible conservation tool for property owners across the County."
Some of the applications since December 2025 have already completed the approval process, while others are still pending. If all 25 are approved, these applications averaging approximately 391 acres each would increase the total acreage included in AFDs in Louisa County from 31,235.69 acres to 41,014.44 acres.
"There are several benefits of being part of the Agricultural and Forestal District program," said Tommy Barlow, Mountain Road District Supervisor. "The program helps protect Louisa County's rural heritage, working farms, and forestlands, while also offering lower property taxation and some protection from eminent domain.”
While approximately 310,750 acres in Louisa County are zoned agricultural, land does not need to be agriculturally zoned to be eligible for inclusion in an AFD. The application process typically takes three to four months and includes opportunities for neighboring property owners to provide input, followed by reviews by the Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission, and ultimately the Board of Supervisors.
Due to the increased interest, Community Development is currently working through a backlog of applications. New applications submitted at this time will begin the review process in September 2026. Interested property owners, however, are encouraged to contact the County now, as staff response times remain around 48 hours. Property owners interested in learning more about the Agricultural and Forestal District Program or beginning the application process can visit louisacounty.gov/3518/Agricultural-Land-Preservation.