Land enrolled in the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District program is entitled to all of the benefits available under the Voluntary Agricultural District program, and to the following additional benefits.
(A) Sale of non-farm products. Landowners participating in Enhanced Districts may receive up to 25% of gross sales from the sale of non-farm products and still qualify as a bona fide farm that is exempt from county zoning regulations under G.S. § 153A-340(b). For the purposes of G.S. § 153A-340(b), the production of any non-farm product that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recognizes as a “Goodness Grows in North Carolina” product that is produced on a farm that is subject to a conservation agreement under G.S. § 106-743.2 is a bona fide farm purpose. A farmer seeking to benefit from this division (A) shall have the burden of establishing that the property’s sale of non-farm products did not exceed 25% of its gross sales. A county may adopt an ordinance pursuant to this section that sets forth the standards necessary for proof of compliance.
(B) Agricultural cost share program. Landowners participating in Enhanced Districts are eligible under G.S. § 106-850(b) to receive the higher percentage of cost-share funds for the benefit of that farmland under the Agriculture Cost Share Program established pursuant to G.S. Chapter 106, Article 72.
(C) Priority consideration. State departments, institutions, or agencies that award grants to farmers are encouraged to give priority consideration to landowners participating in Enhanced Districts.
(D) Utility assessment waiver. As provided in § 157.10, waiver of all county utility assessments in addition to waiver of water and sewer assessments is available to all participants in Enhanced Districts.
(1996 Code, § 157.11) (Ord. passed 1-7-2008; Ord. passed - -2018; Ord. passed 3-7-2022)