Agricultural Preserve Board

Mission Statement

To forever preserve the beautiful farmland and productive soils of Lancaster County and its rich agricultural heritage; and to create a healthy environment for the long-term sustainability of the agricultural economy and farming as a way of life.

Farmland Preservation

Farmland preservation begins with a landowner voluntarily applying to preserve their farm.  Applications are ranked for priority, and an appraisal is performed to determine the value of preservation. The Board then makes a formal offer to preserve the farm based on that appraisal. Once a farm is preserved, it may only be used for farming, with limited subdivision and non-farm construction and limited on-farm businesses permitted. The Agricultural Preserve Board has a responsibility to monitor preserved farms for compliance

New applications are due by September 1st for consideration for the following year. Applicants do not need to reapply every year. 
Application for Preservation 

Meetings

  • 8 a.m.
  • Fourth Thursday of each month except November and December (then third Thursday)
  • Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center, 101 Champ Blvd. Manheim, PA 17545

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

Most Recent Agenda | View All Agendas and Minutes

History of the Board

In 1980, the County Commissioners appointed a nine-member Agricultural Preserve Board to devise ways to protect the county's agricultural lands. In 1983, the Preserve Board added staff and was made a county department. Since 1983, the Preserve Board has administered a purchase of development rights program to preserve land for farming. Landowners apply to sell development rights to the Preserve Board which then ranks the applications for priority, hires appraisers to estimate the value of development rights, and makes a formal offer to the landowner. Landowners who sell their development rights must maintain the land in farming.

The Agricultural Preserve Board (APB) receives funding from both the county and the commonwealth.  As of December 31, 2025, the APB has preserved 90,867 acres of farmland on 1,109 Lancaster County family farms.


Note: The director of the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board is appointed by the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners.