Montgomery County, Maryland is the latest municipality to approve an agricultural tax credit to to create incentives for agricultural uses in urban areas.
"The [Montgomery] County Council unanimously passed a bill March 7 that would grant a tax credit to certain properties that qualify as urban farms," reports Mike Diegel.
"The bill applies to properties ranging in size from one-half acre to less than three acres that are also located in or within 1,000 feet of a Metro Station Policy Area. The property must also be used for at least two of three urban agricultural purposes," explains Diegel.
The need for the new tax credit came about after a councilmember caught wind of a small farm in Silver Spring, which was ineligible for an agricultural tax credit. It follows from that example that the new tax credit encourages urban agriculture. Diegel notes that the Montgomery County Council modeled their tax break on similar legislation in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Seattle, and San Francisco. Local efforts to provide incentives for urban agriculture in California followed from a 2013 state law that allowed Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones.
FULL STORY: Council Passes Tax Credit for Urban Farms
Urban Farming Addressing Hunger (and More) in Pittsburgh
Urban farming provides opportunities to increase food security in addition to other benefits.
New Tax Credit for Urban Farming in Missouri
Urban farmers in Missouri can receive up to $5,000 in tax credits to establish or expand their operations.
'Neighborhood Defenders' and the Suburban Status Quo
A tour de force of reporting documents the efforts of suburban Maryland residents to oppose new developments in their neighborhoods.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions