×The 2024 Session of the General Assembly approved additional funding for the Forest Sustainability Fund. More information will be available soon with details and instructions for localities.
Forestland provides many benefits to landowners, but also to communities. Landowners directly realize timber, wildlife and recreational values, while the benefits of watershed protection, clean air and scenic beauty are enjoyed by society at large. Realizing this, the Virginia Code enables localities to provide use value taxation that can assist owner in keeping their land as forests. Under use-value taxation, properties are taxed based on the productive value of the land rather than the current market value, which results in lower property taxes.
For county and city governments, maintaining forest land is beneficial, as land devoted to forest land use generally requires less cost in providing services than more intensive uses. However, property in forest land use does result in less revenue to local governments. As a result, the General Assembly established the Forest Sustainability Fund in 2022 for localities to apply for an allocation from the Fund to help offset lower, or forgone tax revenue. Forgone revenue is the fair market value of forest land minus the forest use value of forest land times the locality tax rate.
The Code states that monies will be used for public education, outdoor recreation or forest conservation.
Who is Eligible
Local county and city governments with forest use value assessment may apply.
To Apply
An application notice will be sent to each locality with forest use value taxation in October. Applications are generally accepted from October 1 through November 15 each year.
The information required is:
- Basic locality contact information, including a W-9 tax form
- A copy of the local ordinance that established forest use taxation
- The amount of forgone revenue due to forest land use taxation
Localities may apply October 1 – November 15 through the DOF’s Forestry Grants System Access Portal.
Fund Distribution
Applications are reviewed and fund distribution is calculated after November 15 and applicants are notified.
Forgone revenue from forest land use reported by applying localities and the Forest Sustainability Fund amounts awarded are available in the Resource Library below.
Additional Resources
Code of Virginia Forest Sustainability Fund
DOF’s Forestry Grants System Access Portal
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Forest Sustainability Fund Awards FY2023 | This document presents the forgone revenue from forest land use reported by applying localities and the Forest Sustainability Fund amounts awarded for fiscal year 2023. | Document | View | financial-assistance-forest-management forest-management | document | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Contract Signing | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with contract signing. | User Guide | View | finance financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response forest-management | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Filing a Claim | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with filing a claim. | User Guide | View | finance financial-assistance | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Registration User Guide | System Access Portal User Guide for registering to use the grants system. | User Guide | View | financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry finance fire-and-emergency-response urban-and-community-forestry | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Requesting a Contract Amendment | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with requesting a contract amendment. | User Guide | View | finance financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response forest-management | user-guide |
A variety of financial assistance programs are available through DOF and partner agencies for forest management activities.
Explore All Financial Assistance Programs
Contact Us
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