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Questions and Answers Relating tote Williamson Act Page 2 of 4 6.Is there a standard procedure to follow to initiate a Land Conservation Contract? Yes. Persons interested should contact their local planning departments for application forms and instructions. 7.What happens to a Williamson Act contract upon the sale of the property? A Williamson Act contract runs with the land and is binding upon all successors in interest of the landowner. 8.How long must land be maintained under a land conservation contract? The minimum term for a Land Conservation contract is ten years. However,some jurisdictions choose to exercise their option of making the length of time longer,up to twenty years. The contract is automatically renewed every year, maintaining a constant,ten year contract. 9.What is the effect of Nonrenewal? A Notice of Nonrenewal starts the nine-year,nonrenewal period. Either the local government,or landowner,can initiate the nonrenewal process. A landowner can protest the initiation of nonrenewal by local government. (a) If the landowner gives the notice,the annual tax assessments will gradually increase. Usually the greatest percentage increase occurs during the first year. At the end of the nine-year,nonrenewal process,the contract will be terminated. (b) If the local government serves the notice of nonrenewal and the land owner protests,the annual tax assessment will not start to increase until less than six years remain on the contract. In the final five years,the annual tax assessment will increase until the restriction has been removed,and the contract terminated. See Section 426 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the valuation formula to be used in the above cases. 10.Once an contract is signed,does the landowner have to continually maintain agricultural use in order keep his or her contract? Yes. Failure to meet the conditions of the contract may be considered a breach of the contract.The local government may seek legal remedies and/or nonrenew the contract. 11.What limitations on land are imposed by the contract? Land use will be limited and controlled by the rules of the Agricultural Preserve adopted by resolution of the Board or Council. The rules will prescribe the commercial agricultural uses permitted and other compatible uses. Since January 1, 1995 three principles of compatibility are mandatory when determining compatible uses for prime agricultural land and with limited exceptions for non-prime lands. The three principles are: (1) "The use will not significantly compromise the long term productive agricultural capability of the subject contracted parcel or parcels or on other contracted lands in agricultural preserves." (2) "The use will not significantly displace or impair current or reasonably foreseeable agricultural http://www.co.humboldt.ca.us/planning/brochure/william.htm 5/12/2004