Voluntary & Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District Program
The purpose of the Voluntary & Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD/EVAD) Program is to promote the values and general welfare of Mecklenburg County agriculture by increasing the identity of, and pride in, the agricultural community and its way of life. The VAD/EVAD Program also helps protect farms from non-farm development and works to increase farm visibility in the community.
Benefits of Enrolling in VAD or EVAD
- Increase visibility of farms within Mecklenburg County
- Reduce conflicts between farms and their neighbors through signage and a farmland-specific layer within Polaris, Mecklenburg County’s GIS system.
- Give farm owners a voice through a public hearing process for any proposed condemnation or rezoning of VAD or EVAD enrolled farmland by a governmental entity.
- Representation at the County level through the newly formed Agricultural Advisory Board.
Program Details
Bona fide farms of at least one acre in size, located anywhere within Mecklenburg County are eligible to take part in VAD or EVAD.
- The conservation agreement signed between the landowner and Mecklenburg County is revocable for VAD with a 30-day written notice to the Agricultural Advisory Board. VAD participation will receive a sign, have access to public hearings for enrolled land condemned by a governmental agency and will be included in the Polaris ‘Agricultural District’ layer.
- For the Enhanced VAD, the conservation agreement signed between the landowner and Mecklenburg County is irrevocable for 10 years. That agreement will continue to automatically renew in three-year increments until the landowner submits written notice of their intention to withdraw from the program to the AAB. Participation in EVAD is noted on your farm property deed. EVAD farms also receive the following benefits, per state statute:
- May receive up to 25% of its gross sales from nonfarm products without losing zoning exemption,
- Higher percentage of cost-share funds under the NC Agricultural Cost Share Program, and
- May receive priority consideration for grants from State departments, institutions, or agencies.
The Agricultural Advisory Board (AAB) was established alongside the VAD/EVAD program in Mecklenburg County. Its membership is comprised of a majority of those who are actively engaged in agriculture in Mecklenburg County. The AAB approves and denies VAD/EVAD applications and serves as a voice for the agricultural community to the County government. They will help direct and advise the County’s farmland preservation work. If you are interested in applying to serve on the AAB, please visit the Advisory Boards page.
- Yes, any bona fide farm in Mecklenburg County can apply to be part of this program and receive associated benefits. There is no requirement for farms within the County to take part.
- The VAD conservation agreement can be revoked with a 30-day written notice to the Agricultural Advisory Board. The EVAD is irrevocable for 10 years and farms can end their participation at the end of that 10-year period or continue to take part in increments of 3 years.
- Conservation Agreement will be signed by the farm and the County. This agreement is to protect the land from non-farm development while the farm is enrolled in the program.
- A sign will be provided for you to install on a boundary of your farm noting your participation in the program.
- Mecklenburg Soil & Water Conservation District will conduct farm visits on occasion to ensure no non-farm development has occurred on VAD-enrolled acreage.
SWCD will be in contact with you after your conservation agreement has been signed and returned to the County. They will coordinate delivery of signs to your farm.