Programs by WCALP

Easements :: Agricultural Security Areas :: Clean & Green
Century & Bicentennial Farm Program

These programs represent important tools available to preserve Westmoreland County’s rich agricultural heritage.

Clean & Green

Clean & Green is a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture conservation program for land in agricultural use, agricultural reserve, or forest reserve that adjusts the property tax rate for landowners enrolling in the program. Values are set annually by the department.

Agricultural Use

Agricultural use is defined as land used for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity, or devoted to and meeting the requirements and qualifications for payments or other compensation through a soil conservation program under an agreement with an agency of the Federal government.

Agricultural Reserve

Agricultural reserve is defined as a noncommercial open space used for outdoor recreation or the enjoyment of scenic or natural beauty and is open to the public for that use, without charge or fee on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Forest Reserve

Forest reserve is defined as a ten-acre or more piece of land, stocked by forest trees of any size, which are capable of producing timber or other wood products. The term includes farmstead land on the tract.

You may qualify for Clean and Green if:

• You own 10 acres or more of agricultural land, or
• You own less than 10 acres or agricultural land, but gross at least $2,000 annual income from the land, or
• You own 10 acres of forestland.

How do I enroll?

In Westmoreland County, landowners may enroll in the program by completing an application form, which is available from:

Westmoreland County Tax Assessment Office
2 North Main Street
Courthouse Square
Greensburg, PA 15601.

Questions may be directed by mail, or by calling (724) 830-3409.

Is there an application deadline?

Applications must be postmarked or filed in person by June 1st in order to be effective for the next tax year, which begins January 1st.

How long must I stay in the program?

After your land is enrolled in the Clean & Green program, you are obligated to continue using your land in a qualified use indefinitely or face the penalty of rollback taxes plus interest. The rollback tax is the difference between taxes paid based on the Clean & Green rate and the taxes you would have paid if your land were not enrolled in Clean & Green. Rollback taxes are due for the year of change and six of the previous tax years for a total of up to seven years. Interest is imposed on each year’s rollback tax at the rate of six percent per year.

Can I sell all or part or my land?

You can sell land that is enrolled in Clean & Green without paying roll-back taxes or interest as long as you sell all of your land and follow the program’s requirements for a separation or split-off. If you sell your land, the buyer will be obligated to continue using the land in a qualified use or pay rollback taxes and interest.
 

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