§ 137b.14. Forest reserve.
Land that is in forest reserve is eligible for preferential assessment under the act if presently stocked with trees and the land is comprised of 10 or more contiguous acres (including any farmstead land). Forest reserve land includes land that is rented to another person for the purpose of producing timber or other wood products. This includes land devoted to the development and operation of an alternative energy system if a majority of the energy annually generated is utilized on the tract.
Example 1: Landowner owns 60 acres of forested land with trees of all sizes. The landowner intends to harvest timber periodically. The land qualifies to be enrolled as forest reserve land.
Example 2: Landowner owns 100 acres of land that was recently cleared and replanted with seedlings. The land qualifies to be enrolled as forest reserve land.
Example 3: Landowner owns 100 acres of land that was recently harvested for timber and seedlings remain. The land was not replanted. The land qualifies to be enrolled as forest reserve land.
Example 4: Landowner owns 50 acres of land that was cleared and not replanted. There are no trees of any size remaining on this property and no intention of planting. The land does not qualify to be enrolled as forest reserve land.
Example 5: Landowner owns an 8-acre woodlot and wants to enroll. The land is not eligible to be enrolled as forest reserve land because it is less than 10 contiguous acres in area.
Example 6: Landowner owns a parcel of enrolled forest reserve land. Landowner erects solar panels (or some other alternative energy system) on the land and a majority of the electricity generated by the alternative energy system is used on the land. The land remains in forest reserve.
Example 7: Landowner owns two separate parcels of enrolled land, at least one of which is forest reserve land. The parcels are enrolled under a single application for preferential assessment. Landowner erects solar panels (or some other alternative energy system) on a forest reserve parcel. The majority of the electricity generated by the alternative energy system is used on the other enrolled parcel. The parcel upon which the alternative energy system is located remains forest reserve land.
Authority The provisions of this § 137b.14 amended under section 11 of the Pennsylvania Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act of 1974 (72 P. S. § 5490.11).
Source The provisions of this § 137b.14 amended June 26, 2015, effective June 27, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 3311. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (276912).
Cross References This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 137b.73d (relating to wind power generation systems).
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