CHAPTER 286
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 188
AS AMENDED BY
SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 83. TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE VALUATION OF LAND DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL OR FOREST USE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 8333 of Chapter 83, Title 9, Delaware Code, by striking said section in its entirety and by substituting in lieu thereof a new § 8333 to read as follows:
"§ 8333. Criteria for Land Use.
Land shall be deemed to be actively devoted to agricultural, horticultural or forestry use when (i) not less than 10 acres are in such use, and the gross sales of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products produced thereon together with any agricultural program payments and sales of commodities received under government entitlement programs have averaged at least $1,000 per year within a 2-year period of time immediately preceding the tax year in issue, or there is clear evidence of anticipated yearly gross sales and such payments amounting to at least $1,000 per year, within a 2-year period of time, or (ii) less than 10 acres are in such use and the gross sales of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products produced thereon together with any agricultural program payments and sales of commodities received under government entitlement programs shall have averaged at least $10,000 per year within a 2-year period of time immediately preceding the tax year in issue, or there is clear evidence of anticipated yearly gross sales and such payments amounting to at least $10,000 per year within a 2-year period of time. In computing such anticipated yearly gross sales for land under 10 acres in such use, the maximum amount computed from future sales of forestry products shall be not more than $2,000 annually. In applying these criteria, and in determining whether the minimum acreage requirements are met, all contiguous parcels of land held by identical owners in identical proportions of ownership and in identical legal form of title, shall be considered as a single unit."
Section 2. Amend § 8334(2) of Chapter 83, Title 9, Delaware Code, by striking said paragraph in its entirety and by substituting in lieu therefore a new § 8334(2) to read as follows:
"(2) The area of such land (i) is not less than 10 acres in such use, and the gross sales of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products produced thereon together with any agricultural program payments and sales of commodities received under government entitlement programs have averaged at least $1,000 per year within a 2-year period of time immediately preceding the tax year in issue, or there is clear evidence of anticipated yearly gross sales and such payments amounting to at least $1,000 per year, within a 2-year period of time, or (ii) is less than 10 acres in such use and the gross sales of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products produced thereon together with any agricultural program payments and sales of commodities received under government entitlement programs shall have averaged at least $10,000 per year within a 2-year period of time immediately preceding the tax year in issue, or there is clear evidence of anticipated yearly gross sales and such payments amounting to at least $10,000 per year within a 2-year period of time. In computing such anticipated yearly gross sales for land under 10 acres in such use, the maximum amount computed from future sales of forestry products shall not be more than $2,000 annually. In applying these criteria, and in determining whether the minimum acreage requirements are met, all contiguous parcels of land held by identical owners in identical proportions of ownership and in identical legal form of title, shall be considered as a single unit."
Approved July 27, 1995