Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 302 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION › Title 302 CMR 15.00 - Chapter 61, Forest Classification › Section 15.02 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Accessory Land
. Land not devoted to
				the production of forest products and not committed to residential, industrial,
				or commercial use.
Assessors
. The board of assessors for
				the municipality or municipalities in which the parcel is located.
Authorization of the Owner
. The power
				actually given or reasonably presumed to be given by any owner in retaining any
				party to act in his stead to oversee cutting, harvesting, any other forest land
				treatment, or to prepare or submit documents concerning the owner's property,
				even when such party acts to exceed the power actually given by the
				owner.
Certificate
. A form issued by the
				Department identifying the subject parcel as forest land.
Certification
. Approval of a forest
				management plan by the Department in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L.
				c. 61, and whenever used or defined shall include any subsequent certification
				or "recertification".
Certified
. The status of land upon
				which a certificate has been issued by the Department and being entitled to the
				subsequent ministerial act of the assessors to have a lien recorded thereon and
				be taxed in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 61.
Classification
. The designation of
				land as forest land for property tax assessment purposes in accordance with
				M.G.L. c. 61, § 2.
Classified
. The property tax status
				attaching by operation of law to land certified by the Department as forest
				land under M.G.L. c. 61 and
				302 CMR 15.00, and on which a
				lien has been recorded in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 61,
				§ 2.
Department
. The Massachusetts
				Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Forest Land
. Land devoted to the
				growth of forest products.
Forest Products
. Wood, timber,
				Christmas trees, other tree forest growth, and any other product produced from
				forest vegetation.
Forestry
. The profession that
				encompasses the science, art, and practice of creating, managing, harvesting,
				and conserving forest and forest lands for human benefit.
Incompatible with Forest Production
.
				Any activities that would interfere with the production of forest
				products.
Owner
. The person, persons, or other
				legal entity holding title to a parcel of forest land.
Parcel
. Land held by the same owner
				under a deed of title which has no encumbrance incompatible with
				302 CMR 15.00.
Regional Office
.
Central East
							 Massachusetts
Central West
							 Massachusetts
Route 110
P.O. Box 155
Clinton, Massachusetts 01510
(Worcester, Bristol, Norfolk,
Plymouth, Suffolk, Essex,
Middlesex, Barnstable, Island
Counties)
West Central Region Headquarters
40 Cold Storage Road
P.O. Box 484
Amherst, Massachusetts 01004
(Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties)
Western Massachusetts
Western Region Headquarters
740 South Street
P.O. Box 1433
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01202
(Berkshire County)
Same Owner(s)
. Person or persons,
				legal entities, or otherwise, who hold present title to a parcel of land
				covered by a single certification in the same name(s) and in the same capacity,
				whether as sole owner, tenants in common, joint tenants or tenants by the
				entirety. In the event the grantee(s) on a deed to any portion of the parcel
				differs from the grantee(s) on a deed to another portion, one or more deeds
				must be conveyed into identical ownership before the parcel will qualify under
				one certification. Change of ownership occurs on the occasion of any change of
				title on a deed or deeds for classified forest lands including, but not limited
				to, actual transfer in fee by deed, by inheritance, by eminent domain, by court
				decree, or by deed transfer for purposes of incorporation, for addition of or
				removing undivided interests (husband to husband and wife, parent to parents
				and child, and so on) or for clearing title.
State Forester
. The Commissioner of
				the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Subject Parcel
. A parcel of land on
				which an application for certification has been filed with the Department, or
				which has or had been certified as forest land by the State Forester, excluding
				any portions of the parcel that are specifically described and identified in
				the application or approved forest management plan as excluded from
				certification and classification.