Connecticut law allows much farmland, open space, or forest land to be assessed for local property tax purposes, according to its current use rather than its potential use for development. This may provide a critical reduction in tax rates for many landowners, who would otherwise have to sell their land for development.
- Forest requires a minimum of 25 acres that must be kept in forest for a minimum of 10 years. The forest must be judged as worthy of preservation by a State Forester.
- Farm has no minimum acreage but the land must be kept in as farm land for a minimum of 10 years.
- Open Space the land must be determined by the town legislative body that it is desirable open space land and must be kept as open space for a minimum of 10 years.
The assessed value for each of these categories varies but is substantially less that market value of undeveloped land.