ARTICLE 7. Farmland Security Zones [51296. - 51297.4.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 7.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296. Section 51296.

The Legislature finds and declares that it is desirable to expand options available to landowners for the preservation of agricultural land. It is therefore the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to encourage the creation of longer term voluntary enforceable restrictions within agricultural preserves.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.1. Section 51296.1.

A landowner or group of landowners may petition the board to rescind a contract or contracts entered into pursuant to this chapter in order to simultaneously place the land subject to that contract or those contracts under a new contract designating the property as a farmland security zone. A landowner or group of landowners may also petition the board to create a farmland security zone for the purpose of entering into farmland security zone contracts pursuant to this section. (a) Before approving the rescission of a contract or contracts entered into pursuant to this chapter in order to simultaneously place the land under a new farmland security zone contract, the board shall create a farmland security zone, pursuant to the requirements of Section 51230, within an existing agricultural preserve. (b) No land shall be included in a farmland security zone unless expressly requested by the landowner. Any land located within a city’s sphere of influence shall not be included within a farmland security zone, unless the creation of the farmland security zone within the sphere of influence has been expressly approved by resolution by the city with jurisdiction within the sphere of influence. (c) If more than one landowner requests the creation of a farmland security zone and the parcels are contiguous, the county shall place those parcels in the same farmland security zone. (d) A contract entered into pursuant to this section shall be for an initial term of no less than 20 years. Each contract shall provide that on the anniversary date of the contract or on another annual date as specified by the contract, a year shall be added automatically to the initial term unless a notice of nonrenewal is given pursuant to Section 51245. (e) Upon termination of a farmland security zone contract, the farmland security zone designation for that parcel shall simultaneously be terminated.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.2. Section 51296.2.

Both of the following shall apply to land within a designated farmland security zone: (a) The land shall be eligible for property tax valuation pursuant to Section 423.4 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any special tax approved by the voters for urban-related services on or after January 1, 1999, on the land or any living improvement shall be levied at a reduced rate unless the tax directly benefits the land or the living improvements.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.3. Section 51296.3.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000)), a local agency formation commission shall not approve a change of organization or reorganization that would result in the annexation of land within a designated farmland security zone to a city. However, this subdivision shall not apply under any of the following circumstances: (a) If the farmland security zone is located within a designated, delineated area that has been approved by the voters as a limit for existing and future urban facilities, utilities, and services. (b) If annexation of a parcel or a portion of a parcel is necessary for the location of a public improvement, as defined in Section 51290.5, except as provided in Section 51296.5 or 51296.6. (c) If the landowner consents to the annexation.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.4. Section 51296.4.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000)), a local agency formation commission shall not approve a change of organization or reorganization that would result in the annexation of land within a designated farmland security zone to a special district that provides or would provide sewers, nonagricultural water, or streets and roads, unless the facilities or services provided by the special district benefit land uses that are allowed under the contract and the landowner consents to the change of organization or reorganization.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.5. Section 51296.5.

Notwithstanding Article 5 (commencing with Section 53090) of Chapter 1 of Division 2 of Title 5, a school district shall not render inapplicable a county zoning ordinance to the use of land by the school district if the land is within a designated farmland security zone.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.6. Section 51296.6.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school district shall not acquire any land that is within a designated farmland security zone.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.7. Section 51296.7.

The board shall not approve any use of land within a designated farmland security zone based on the compatible use provisions contained in subdivision (c) of Section 51238.1.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.8. Section 51296.8.

Sections 51296 to 51297.4, inclusive, shall only apply to land that is designated on the Important Farmland Series maps, prepared pursuant to Section 65570 as predominantly one or more of the following: (a) Prime farmland. (b) Farmland of statewide significance. (c) Unique farmland. (d) Farmland of local importance. If the proposed farmland security zone is in an area that is not designated on the Important Farmland Series maps, the land shall qualify if it is predominantly prime agricultural land, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 51201.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51296.9. Section 51296.9.

Nonrenewal of a farmland security zone contract shall be pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 51240), except as otherwise provided in this article.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51297. Section 51297.

A petition for cancellation of a farmland security zone contract created under this article may be filed only by the landowner with the city or county within which the contracted land is located. The city or county may grant a petition only in accordance with the procedures provided for in Article 5 (commencing with Section 51280) and only if all the following requirements are met: (a) The city or county shall make both of the findings specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 51282, based on substantial evidence in the record. Subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, of Section 51282 shall apply to the findings made by the city or county. (b) Prior to issuing tentative approval of the cancellation of the contract, the board or council shall determine and certify to the county auditor the amount of the cancellation fee that the landowner will be required to pay the county treasurer upon cancellation of the contract. The cancellation fee shall be in an amount that equals 25 percent of the cancellation valuation of the property. (c) In its resolution tentatively approving cancellation of the contract, the city or county shall find all of the following: (1) That no beneficial public purpose would be served by the continuation of the contract. (2) That the uneconomic nature of the agricultural use is primarily attributable to circumstances beyond the control of the landowner and the local government. (3) That the landowner has paid a cancellation fee equal to 25 percent of the cancellation valuation calculated in accordance with subdivision (b). (d) A finding that no authorized use may be made of a remnant contract parcel of five acres or less left by public acquisition pursuant to Section 51295, may be substituted for the finding in subdivision (a).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51297.1. Section 51297.1.

All of the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 51290) shall apply to farmland security zones created pursuant to this article except as specifically provided in this article.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51297.2. Section 51297.2.

No state agency, as defined in Section 65934, or local agency, as defined in Section 65930, shall require any land to be placed under a farmland security zone contract as a condition of the issuance of any entitlement to use or the approval of a legislative or adjudicative act involving, but not limited to, the planning, use, or development of real property, or a change of organization or reorganization, as defined in Section 56021 or 56073. No contract shall be executed as a condition of an entitlement to use issued by an agency of the United States government.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51297.3. Section 51297.3.

Sections 51296.3 and 51296.4 shall not apply during the three-year period preceding the termination of a farmland security zone contract.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51297.4. Section 51297.4.

Nothing in Sections 51296 to 51297.4, inclusive, shall be construed to limit the authority of a board to rescind a portion or portions of a Williamson Act contract or contracts for the purpose of immediately enrolling the land in a farmland security zone contract so long as the remaining land is retained in a Williamson Act contract and the board determines that its action would improve the conservation of agricultural land within the county where the rescission occurs. The creation of multiple contracts under this section does not constitute a subdivision of the land.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026