Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 40 - Agriculture and Resource Marketing › Subchapter 20 - Marketing › Part 1 - Rules and Regulations for Enforcement of the Farm, Forest, and Open Space Act › Section 250-RICR-40-20-1.7 - Application for Designation of Forestland

Current through June 14, 2024
A. An owner of not
				  less than ten (10) acres of land may file a written application with the
				  Director for its designation by the Director as forestland. When the
				  application is made and a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) is paid, the
				  Director shall examine the land. If the Director determines that the land is
				  forestland, then the Director issues a certificate designating the land as
				  forestland. The Director shall furnish a copy of the certificate to the owner
				  of the land, and shall file a copy of the certificate in the office of the
				  assessor of the city or town in which the land is located.
B. An owner of land designated as forestland
				  by the Director may also apply to the assessor of the city or town where the
				  land is located for its classification as forestland on any assessment list
				  maintained by the city or town. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §
										44-27-4(c)(1),
				  such an application must be filed with the assessor of the city or town not
				  earlier than thirty (30) days before nor later than thirty (30) days after the
				  date of assessment, except that in years of revaluation not later than thirty
				  (30) days after written notice of revaluation or in its absence after receipt
				  of the tax bill. The Director's designation of the land as forest land must be
				  valid as of a date at or prior to the date of the assessment. Pursuant to R.I.
				  Gen. Laws §
										44-27-4(d), the
				  application must be made on a form prescribed by the assessor and include a
				  description of the land and the date of issuance of the Director's certificate
				  of designation.
C. Pursuant to R.I.
				  Gen. Laws §§
										44-27-2(2),
				  44-27-4(b) and
				  44-27-7, in order to maintain a
				  certificate of designation for forestland issued by the Director, the landowner
				  must update and submit a revised forest stewardship plan at the end of each ten
				  year period prepared by a professionally qualified forester meeting the minimum
				  criteria established in §
										1.14 of this Part.
				  Applicants should apply with the "Application for Designation of Farmland or
				  Forestland". For continuing eligibility, the property is subject to
				  re-inspection by the Director every 5 years or at the request of the tax
				  assessor and subject to the management recommendations prescribed by the plan
				  and approved by the Director.
D.
				  Application to the Director for designation of land as forestland shall be made
				  upon a form prescribed by the Director and shall include a description of the
				  land and any other information that may be required to aid the Director in
				  determining whether the land qualifies for that designation. The application
				  shall be accompanied by a forest stewardship plan prepared by a qualified
				  professional forester in accordance with minimum criteria established in §
										1.14 of this Part.
				  Applicants should apply with the "Application for Designation of Farmland or
				  Forestland".
E. Recommended values
				  for forestland will be periodically determined by the Farm, Forest and Open
				  Space Land Value Subcommittee.