Landowner Tax Incentive Programs
The following information was provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
ODFW is pleased to provide you with information about our landowner tax incentive programs. Two programs are gaining popularity and help us meet our goals as stated in the Oregon Conservation Strategy to increase voluntary conservation by private landowners. The Oregon Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program (WHCMP) and the Riparian Land Tax Incentive Program (RLTIP) aim to provide tax relief to private landowners that would like the function of their property to be for wildlife habitat. Property enrolled in the WHCMP is eligible for a wildlife habitat special assessment with property assessed at the same rate as farm or forest special assessment. Property enrolled in the RLTIP is eligible for a property tax exemption for enrolled land. Land in the RLTIP must be bordering a stream or river with a defined channel and usually has a boundary limit of 100 feet from the top of either or both banks. Stream associated wetlands may also be included, which may result in more than a 100 foot buffer area.
If you take action on your property that disqualifies you from receiving either special assessment, you may be charged back taxes. If you sell your property, the new owner has the option to stay in or opt out of either program. In the WHCMP, the new owners may be assessed back taxes if they opt out of the program. In the RLTIP, new owners are not assessed back taxes if they opt out of the program within 120 days. It is your responsibility to inform new landowners of these programs.
To determine if you are eligible for the WHCMP please answer the following questions:
1) Is your property outside of incorporated city limits and zoned for agriculture or forest?
a. If you answered ‘No’, unfortunately you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’, please answer question 2.
2) Does your county participate in the program?
a. In the NWWD, currently every county except Yamhill County is actively participating. Eligible counties include Columbia, Washington, Marion, Clackamas, and Multnomah. If you live in Yamhill County, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 1 and this question and are interested in starting the enrollment process, read on!
Three basic steps occur to participate in the WHCMP:
1) First, visit your county assessor and complete the eligibility form. This ensures that the property in question is zoned correctly for participation in the program.
2) Second, develop a habitat plan. Templates of the plan are included in this packet. This step usually includes a site visit from ODFW staff. After the visit and ODFW staff determines your property is appropriate for inclusion in the program, you can create the plan by yourself, with help from your local Soil and Water Conservation District or your local Natural Resource Conservation Service office. If ODFW staff has the time, they will help create the plan. However, please keep in mind that the NWWD encompasses 6 counties and currently there is one tax incentive program staff person to cover the area.
3) Third, submit the draft to ODFW staff for review, editing, and approval. After a final plan is approved, send all appropriate paperwork, including a form required by the Department of Revenue, to the county and keep a copy of the plan for your records. The deadline to submit a plan to the county is April 1st of each year. Do not call ODFW in March wanting to start the process for that year. It takes more than a month to set up a site visit and create a plan.
To determine if you are eligible for the RLTIP please answer the following questions:
1) Does your property contain a stream (intermittent or perennial) or lie adjacent to a river?
a. If you answered ‘No’, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’, please answer question 2.
2) Is your property outside of the Urban Growth Boundary OR has your property been adopted within the boundary within the last 5 years?
a. If you answered, ‘No’, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’ to questions 1 and 2, please answer question 3.
3) Is your property zoned for agriculture or forest OR has your property been re-zoned from agriculture or forest within the last 5 years?
a. If you answered, ‘No’, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 1, 2, and this question and you are interested in starting the enrollment process, read on!
Three basic steps occur to participate in the RLTIP:
1) First, call your county to make sure they know you are interested in the program. You can participate in the program if you live outside of the Urban Growth Boundary. If your property was recently adopted within the UGB, you are eligible to enroll for five years. For this program, there is no form for the county to sign.
2) Second develop a riparian habitat plan. Templates of the plan are included in this packet. This step usually includes a site visit from ODFW staff. After the visit and ODFW staff determines your property is appropriate for inclusion in the program, you can create the plan by yourself or with help from your local Soil and Water Conservation District or Natural Resource Conservation Service office. If ODFW staff has the time, they will help create the plan. However, please keep in mind that the NWWD encompasses 6 counties and currently there is one tax incentive program staff person in the area.
3) Third, submit the draft to ODFW staff for review, editing, and approval. After a final plan is approved, send all appropriate paperwork, including a form required by the Department of Revenue, to the county and keep a copy of the plan for your records. The deadline to submit a plan to the county is December 31st of each year. Do not call ODFW in late November wanting to start the process for that year. It takes more than a month to set up a site visit and create a plan.
ODFW strongly supports incentive programs as an important and voluntary component of habitat conservation and restoration. The department encourages you to review the information in this packet and consider participation in the programs if your property qualifies and your county or city participates in the program. Please contact the department if you have any questions or would like to discuss the program further. Alternatively, if you have access to the internet, visit www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/index.asp and www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/tax_overview.asp for more information.
The following information was provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
ODFW is pleased to provide you with information about our landowner tax incentive programs. Two programs are gaining popularity and help us meet our goals as stated in the Oregon Conservation Strategy to increase voluntary conservation by private landowners. The Oregon Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program (WHCMP) and the Riparian Land Tax Incentive Program (RLTIP) aim to provide tax relief to private landowners that would like the function of their property to be for wildlife habitat. Property enrolled in the WHCMP is eligible for a wildlife habitat special assessment with property assessed at the same rate as farm or forest special assessment. Property enrolled in the RLTIP is eligible for a property tax exemption for enrolled land. Land in the RLTIP must be bordering a stream or river with a defined channel and usually has a boundary limit of 100 feet from the top of either or both banks. Stream associated wetlands may also be included, which may result in more than a 100 foot buffer area.
If you take action on your property that disqualifies you from receiving either special assessment, you may be charged back taxes. If you sell your property, the new owner has the option to stay in or opt out of either program. In the WHCMP, the new owners may be assessed back taxes if they opt out of the program. In the RLTIP, new owners are not assessed back taxes if they opt out of the program within 120 days. It is your responsibility to inform new landowners of these programs.
To determine if you are eligible for the WHCMP please answer the following questions:
1) Is your property outside of incorporated city limits and zoned for agriculture or forest?
a. If you answered ‘No’, unfortunately you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’, please answer question 2.
2) Does your county participate in the program?
a. In the NWWD, currently every county except Yamhill County is actively participating. Eligible counties include Columbia, Washington, Marion, Clackamas, and Multnomah. If you live in Yamhill County, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 1 and this question and are interested in starting the enrollment process, read on!
Three basic steps occur to participate in the WHCMP:
1) First, visit your county assessor and complete the eligibility form. This ensures that the property in question is zoned correctly for participation in the program.
2) Second, develop a habitat plan. Templates of the plan are included in this packet. This step usually includes a site visit from ODFW staff. After the visit and ODFW staff determines your property is appropriate for inclusion in the program, you can create the plan by yourself, with help from your local Soil and Water Conservation District or your local Natural Resource Conservation Service office. If ODFW staff has the time, they will help create the plan. However, please keep in mind that the NWWD encompasses 6 counties and currently there is one tax incentive program staff person to cover the area.
3) Third, submit the draft to ODFW staff for review, editing, and approval. After a final plan is approved, send all appropriate paperwork, including a form required by the Department of Revenue, to the county and keep a copy of the plan for your records. The deadline to submit a plan to the county is April 1st of each year. Do not call ODFW in March wanting to start the process for that year. It takes more than a month to set up a site visit and create a plan.
To determine if you are eligible for the RLTIP please answer the following questions:
1) Does your property contain a stream (intermittent or perennial) or lie adjacent to a river?
a. If you answered ‘No’, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’, please answer question 2.
2) Is your property outside of the Urban Growth Boundary OR has your property been adopted within the boundary within the last 5 years?
a. If you answered, ‘No’, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’ to questions 1 and 2, please answer question 3.
3) Is your property zoned for agriculture or forest OR has your property been re-zoned from agriculture or forest within the last 5 years?
a. If you answered, ‘No’, you are not eligible for the program.
b. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 1, 2, and this question and you are interested in starting the enrollment process, read on!
Three basic steps occur to participate in the RLTIP:
1) First, call your county to make sure they know you are interested in the program. You can participate in the program if you live outside of the Urban Growth Boundary. If your property was recently adopted within the UGB, you are eligible to enroll for five years. For this program, there is no form for the county to sign.
2) Second develop a riparian habitat plan. Templates of the plan are included in this packet. This step usually includes a site visit from ODFW staff. After the visit and ODFW staff determines your property is appropriate for inclusion in the program, you can create the plan by yourself or with help from your local Soil and Water Conservation District or Natural Resource Conservation Service office. If ODFW staff has the time, they will help create the plan. However, please keep in mind that the NWWD encompasses 6 counties and currently there is one tax incentive program staff person in the area.
3) Third, submit the draft to ODFW staff for review, editing, and approval. After a final plan is approved, send all appropriate paperwork, including a form required by the Department of Revenue, to the county and keep a copy of the plan for your records. The deadline to submit a plan to the county is December 31st of each year. Do not call ODFW in late November wanting to start the process for that year. It takes more than a month to set up a site visit and create a plan.
ODFW strongly supports incentive programs as an important and voluntary component of habitat conservation and restoration. The department encourages you to review the information in this packet and consider participation in the programs if your property qualifies and your county or city participates in the program. Please contact the department if you have any questions or would like to discuss the program further. Alternatively, if you have access to the internet, visit www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/index.asp and www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/tax_overview.asp for more information.
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