The New Livestock Operation Checklist is a Maricopa County Assessor form that helps the office understand a livestock operation and the agricultural production it carries out. It is one of the Maricopa County property tax forms in the Assessor's Agriculture library, and it points to the application forms and supporting evidence tied to Agricultural Classification. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the Assessor publishes the original at mcassessor.maricopa.gov.
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What is FOR-006?
The New Livestock Operation Checklist (FOR-006 V1) is the Maricopa County Assessor's form that helps the office understand your agricultural operation and the nature of your production, and lists documents that may demonstrate qualifying agricultural production under A.R.S. § 42-12151 and 42-12152.
The checklist has three parts. First, it names what you must provide to be considered for Agricultural Classification under A.R.S. § 42-12153: the Agricultural Land Use Application (DOR Form 82916 (04/2013)) and its Supplement Page (DOR Form 82916-C (4/2013)). If the property is leased, A.R.S. § 42-13102 also requires the Agricultural Lease Abstract (DOR Form 82917 (08/2015)).
Second, it asks for a brief description of how your operation works, so the office can decide which definition of "agriculture" under A.R.S. § 42-12151 applies.
Third, it lists suggested evidence. The form states that some listed documents are required while others are examples, that the list is not all-inclusive, and that you may provide other documentation. Separate lists cover range operators and high density operators. The Assessor's forms library also lists separate checklists for equine, high-density and permanent and seasonal operations.
Who needs to file FOR-006?
Owners or operators of a new livestock operation in Maricopa County who want the Assessor to consider the property for Agricultural Classification use this checklist. It is also for anyone who wants guidance on what evidence helps show qualifying agricultural production.
The checklist has two sets of supporting documents by operation type:
- Range operators: government leases or permits (such as BLM, Forest Service or State lands), grazing leases, brand registration, livestock sale records and grazing plans.
- High density operators: operations the Assessor reviews against the EPA's definition of an Animal Feeding Operation (AFO), because Arizona law does not specifically define "high-density use."
If the property is under lease, the leaseholder must also provide the Agricultural Lease Abstract with a copy of the current valid lease and any amendments.
The checklist is written for livestock operations. The Assessor's forms library lists a separate New Equine Operation Checklist and others for different operation types.
When to file FOR-006
Complete the checklist when you ask the Maricopa County Assessor to consider a new livestock operation for Agricultural Classification, because it accompanies the Agricultural Land Use Application and its Supplement Page. The checklist prints no separate due date. For timing questions, contact the Agricultural Team at 602-506-3406 or [email protected].
Gather the evidence before you start. Many suggested items cover at least 3 of the last 5 years, such as Schedule F or C filings, livestock sale records, and feed and water invoices. A leased property also needs a lease abstract with an end date, even if the lease auto renews.
Documents you need
- Agricultural Land Use Application (DOR Form 82916 (04/2013)): required to be considered for Agricultural Classification under A.R.S. § 42-12153.
- Agricultural Land Use Application – Supplement Page (DOR Form 82916-C (4/2013)): required with the application under A.R.S. § 42-12153.
- Agricultural Lease Abstract (DOR Form 82917 (08/2015)): only if the property is under lease (A.R.S. § 42-13102). It must show an end date even if the lease auto renews.
- A copy of the current valid lease and any amendments: only if the property is leased; submit it together with the abstract.
- Brief description of your operation: operator name, doing-business-as name, contact details, mailing address, headquarters address or parcel number, commodities and operation type.
- Suggested for all operation types: IRS Schedule F and/or Schedule C for 3 of the past 5 years, including the redacted AZ filing for each year.
- Suggested for all operation types: an Agricultural Business Insurance Waiver, which is insurance specific to the agricultural business, not home or auto insurance.
- Suggested for range operators: government leases, permits or entitlements (BLM, Forest Service, State lands), active grazing leases, brand registration and livestock sale records for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
- Suggested for range operators: grazing cell management plans and grazing history, a map of water sources with coordinates or ADWR Well Numbers and a water management plan, trucking records and AZDA Livestock Health Inspection Forms.
- Suggested for high density operators: livestock sale invoices and feed and water invoices for at least 3 of the last 5 years, vetting invoices, equipment and repair invoices, W-2(A)s or similar, and livestock transportation logs or invoices.
How to fill out FOR-006
Read the checklist requirements
Note that the Agricultural Land Use Application (DOR Form 82916) and its Supplement Page (DOR Form 82916-C) are required, and that a leased property also needs DOR Form 82917.
Enter the operator's true name
Under True Name of the Operator(s), write the legal name of each operator.
Add the business and contact details
Enter the Doing Business As name of the operation, plus the phone and email for the operation and the name of the preferred contact person.
Enter addresses
Write the mailing address and the address or parcel number of the headquarters or main operation base.
List the commodities produced
List each commodity, with the number of production animals or the acreage typically held in production, such as cattle, crop (include type) or equine.
Explain the operation type
Describe how the operation works, for example cow/calf, row crop or boarding, so the office can decide which definition of agriculture under A.R.S. § 42-12151 applies.
Gather evidence for your operation
Collect the suggested evidence for all operation types, then the range operator or high density operator documents that fit your operation.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the description against your supporting documents, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit FOR-006
The checklist prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule, so its only stated channels are the Assessor's Agricultural Team contacts: phone 602-506-3406 and email [email protected].
- Ask before you send: contact the Agricultural Team for guidance on what to provide and how to deliver it.
- Forms: the Assessor publishes its agriculture forms at mcassessor.maricopa.gov. Its forms library also lists DocuSign versions of the Agricultural Land Use Application and the Agricultural Lease Abstract.
- Statutes: Arizona Revised Statutes are at azleg.gov.
Send the description and evidence together with the required application forms, and the lease abstract and lease copy if the property is leased. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Assessor's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the Agricultural Land Use Application and its Supplement Page, which the checklist says you must provide to be considered for Agricultural Classification.
- Submitting a lease abstract with no end date because the lease auto renews; the abstract must have an end date.
- Sending the Agricultural Lease Abstract without a copy of the current valid lease and any amendments.
- Offering home or auto insurance as the Agricultural Business Insurance Waiver; it must be insurance specific to the agricultural business.
- Providing Schedule F or Schedule C without the redacted AZ filing for each year, or for fewer than 3 of the past 5 years.
- Omitting the number of production animals or the acreage in production when listing commodities in your operation description.
- Treating every suggested document as mandatory, or treating the list as all-inclusive; the form says some are required, others are examples, and you may add other documentation.
- Providing grazing leases that do not show the 12,800-acre land area requirement of A.R.S. § 42-12152(3) was sufficient for at least 3 of the last 5 years (range operators).
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Livestock Operation Checklist?
It is a Maricopa County Assessor form (FOR-006 V1) that helps the office understand your agricultural operation. It asks for a short description of the operation and lists documents that may show qualifying agricultural production under A.R.S. § 42-12151 and 42-12152.
Is this one of the Maricopa County property tax forms?
Yes. The Maricopa County Assessor publishes it in its Agriculture forms library. It supports a request to be considered for Agricultural Classification. For questions about your parcel, call the Agricultural Team at 602-506-3406.
Which documents are required with the checklist?
To be considered for Agricultural Classification you must provide the Agricultural Land Use Application (DOR Form 82916) and its Supplement Page (DOR Form 82916-C). If the property is leased, you also provide the Agricultural Lease Abstract (DOR Form 82917) and the current lease.
Are all the suggested documents mandatory?
No. The checklist says some listed documents are required while others are examples, not mandatory or all-inclusive. You may also provide other documentation that helps show your qualifying agricultural production.
What does the lease abstract need to show?
The Agricultural Lease Abstract must have an end date, even if the lease auto renews. Submit a copy of the current valid lease and any amendments together with the abstract.
How does the Assessor treat high density livestock operations?
Arizona law does not define high-density use, so the office uses the EPA's Animal Feeding Operation definition: animals stabled or confined and fed for 45 days or more in any 12-month period, with no crops or forage sustained in the normal growing season.
Can I fill out the New Livestock Operation Checklist online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the checklist to the Assessor; you send it through the Assessor's channels.
Who do I contact with questions about the checklist?
Contact the Assessor's Agricultural Team at 602-506-3406 or [email protected]. They can advise on which information and documentation may be helpful for your operation.
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