One of the most common calls that I receive as an Extension agent is “How can I Greenbelt my land?” Agricultural Classification, commonly known as “Greenbelt,” is a land classification that provides a lower use assessment value (not market value) to agricultural land. Agricultural producers are taxed based on the income potential of the land in production rather than the market value of the land. While some refer to this as the “ag exemption”, it is more of an adjustment based on the commodity being produced.

The Florida Greenbelt Law requires property to be used primarily for “bona fide agricultural purposes” to be classified as agricultural. It is up to the discretion of the County Property Appraiser’s Office to determine the status of the property; however, focusing on farm planning and running your farm as a business may help you increase your chances to qualify.

Tips to Prepare Your Operation

• Be sure to plan out your farm as a bona fide agricultural operation. Create a business plan and run the farm as a business with an expectation of making a profit. Utilize industry standard practices. For cattle, this could be general management like breeding cows and selling weaned calves as your income source. It should be clear that they are more than a pet. For crops, you’ll want to run this as a commercial farm with consistent production and typical production practices.
• Focus on one or two enterprises. With smaller acreage properties, you don’t want to diversify too much because you need to be farming at a scale that is appropriate for a bona fide operation. If you diversify too much, you won’t produce enough of each enterprise and will look more like a hobby rather than a farm business. Start simple and grow as you get more established.
• Keep production records and financial records. You need to be able to provide financial information to the Greenbelt Department. This can be as receipts of supplies purchased, vet records, sales receipts of livestock, schedule F, income and expense statements, business plans, etc.
• You’ll only be granted greenbelt on the areas of agricultural production. For example, the house and any areas not used for agricultural production will be excluded from the tax evaluation for Greenbelt.

The agricultural application deadline for filing a timely agricultural application is March 1^st of the year applying for, but the operation must be in effect as of January 1^st of that year. The application will be reviewed, and the property will be inspected to determine if it qualifies for agricultural classification.

For property in Hillsborough County, apply for Agricultural Classification, a.k.a. Greenbelt, through the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser office website: https://hcpafl.org/

For Agricultural Guidelines FAQ’s, visit: https://hcpafl.org/Property-Info/Greenbelt-Agriculture

For more information, register for the Greenbelt Classification & Farm Resource Seminar on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6pm.

This seminar will be held in person in the Conference Center at the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County office, located at 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584.

This seminar is for Hillsborough County agricultural landowners who are interested in applying for or maintaining Greenbelt Agricultural Classification status on their property. You will hear from the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser office about the Greenbelt Agricultural Classification requirements and application process. You’ll also hear from the Hillsborough County Extension Agent about agricultural resources for producers.

Register Here: https://2025GreenbeltClassificationSeminar.eventbrite.com

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