Open Space - How to Qualify is a Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue document that sets out how a parcel can qualify for open space use assessments. It is one of the Loudoun County property tax documents, and it groups the rules by public purpose: historic, scenic resource protection, farmland, planning goals, Code of Virginia and permanent open space easements. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the county at loudoun.gov.
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What is Open Space - How to Qualify – Loudoun County, VA?
Open Space - How to Qualify is a Loudoun County document, issued through the Commissioner of the Revenue, that states the conditions a parcel must meet to qualify for open space use assessments. Its title page reads "How to Qualify For Open Space Use Assessments".
The first rule applies to every parcel: it must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The sheet then sorts the remaining conditions by public purpose:
- Historic Public Purpose: at least 5 acres excluding the homesite, listed as a historic or contributing property on the Virginia Landmarks Register, the National Register of Historic Places or the Loudoun County Heritage Register, and subject to a perpetual easement or a 7 to 10 year recorded commitment with the county.
- Scenic Resource Protection Public Purpose: at least 5 acres, with frontage on a listed scenic by-way or contiguity to Goose Creek or Catoctin Creek, plus an easement or commitment.
- Protection of Farmland for Future Agricultural Use: at least 20 acres in a rural area, with a land management plan and a minimum 10 year commitment.
- Achievement of Comprehensive planning and community development goals: at least 20 acres under one of five protections.
- Code of Virginia: at least 5 acres used for a listed purpose and within a district, easement or commitment.
- Permanent Open Space Easement: at least 5 acres under a perpetual conservation easement.
It is a criteria sheet, not an application with numbered lines.
Who needs to file Open Space - How to Qualify – Loudoun County, VA?
Owners of land in Loudoun County who are considering an open space use assessment use this sheet to check whether a parcel fits one of the listed public purposes. Each purpose has its own minimum size, always measured excluding the homesite: 5 acres for the historic, scenic resource, Code of Virginia and permanent open space easement categories, and 20 acres for the farmland and comprehensive planning categories.
Conditions vary by category:
- Historic and scenic properties must also be subject to a perpetual scenic, historic or open space easement, or a 7 to 10 year recorded commitment with the county.
- Farmland parcels must be in a rural area as defined by the County Comprehensive Plan, with a land management plan approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District and a minimum 10 year open space commitment.
- Parcels under a permanent conservation easement held under 10.1-1011 or 10.1-1700 of the Code of Virginia do not need to apply to the use value program and are not charged a filing fee.
Every parcel must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The sheet does not say who may act for an owner; call the Commissioner of the Revenue's office for that.
When to file Open Space - How to Qualify – Loudoun County, VA
Use this sheet before you apply for an open space use assessment, to confirm which public purpose fits your parcel. The sheet itself prints no filing deadline, so check dates with the Commissioner of the Revenue at 703-777-0260.
It does set commitment terms that affect timing. Historic and scenic properties without a perpetual easement need a 7 to 10 year recorded commitment with the county. Farmland parcels need a minimum 10 year open space commitment and an approved land management plan. Parcels under a permanent conservation easement need no use value program application.
Documents you need
- Recorded perpetual scenic, historic or open space easement, or a 7 to 10 year recorded commitment with the county: needed for historic and scenic resource protection parcels.
- Land management plan approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District: needed for the farmland protection category, together with a minimum 10 year open space commitment with the county.
- Proof the property is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register, the National Register of Historic Places or the Loudoun County Heritage Register, or is a contributing property in a historic district: for the historic category.
- Evidence of a perpetual conservation easement held under 10.1-1011 or 10.1-1700 of the Code of Virginia: for the permanent open space easement category, which needs no use value program application.
How to fill out Open Space - How to Qualify – Loudoun County, VA
Measure the parcel excluding the homesite
Work out the acreage without the homesite. The sheet requires at least 5 acres for most categories and at least 20 acres for farmland and comprehensive planning goals.
Check Comprehensive Plan consistency
Confirm the parcel is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, the first condition printed at the top of the sheet for all parcels.
Choose the public purpose category
Pick the heading that fits: Historic, Scenic Resource Protection, Protection of Farmland for Future Agricultural Use, Achievement of Comprehensive planning and community development goals, Code of Virginia or Permanent Open Space Easement.
Check historic listing and easement
For the Historic category, confirm the property is listed or contributing on one of the three registers and is subject to a perpetual easement or a 7 to 10 year recorded commitment.
Check scenic by-way or river frontage
For Scenic Resource Protection, confirm 300 feet of frontage on a listed by-way, or contiguity to Goose Creek or Catoctin Creek, plus an easement or commitment.
Check farmland requirements
For farmland, confirm the parcel is in a rural area, has a Soil and Water Conservation District approved land management plan and a minimum 10 year open space commitment.
Check planning goals protection
For comprehensive planning goals, confirm one of the five listed protections: permanent Open Space Easement, permanent Scenic Easement, Agricultural or Forestal District, or a rural village or rural hamlet conservancy lot.
Check Code of Virginia purposes
For the Code of Virginia category, confirm a listed use, such as park or recreation, conservation or floodways, and a district, recorded perpetual easement or recorded commitment.
Check permanent easement exemption
If the parcel is under a perpetual conservation easement held pursuant to 10.1-1011 or 10.1-1700, note that no use value application or filing fee applies.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check your entries, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver anything required through the county's channels described under How to submit.
How to submit Open Space - How to Qualify – Loudoun County, VA
The sheet itself names no address or portal. The Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue's page for Tax Assessment & Tax Relief Forms lists three channels for its forms:
- Digital webforms: select forms can be submitted digitally.
- Downloadable and print-ready forms: most forms also remain available as PDFs.
- Document Upload Portal: completed forms that contain sensitive personal identifying information should be submitted through this secure portal.
Remote online notarization is offered for specific forms; check availability or request an appointment through the county's page, and keep in mind that a stable, high-speed internet connection is required. For help with a form, email staff or call 703-777-0260. A filing fee applies to use value program applications other than those under permanent conservation easements; ask the office for the amount. Find the forms page at https://www.loudoun.gov/6018/Tax-Assessment-Tax-Relief-Forms. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting the homesite toward acreage; every category measures the minimum size excluding the homesite.
- Applying a 5 acre minimum to farmland or comprehensive planning goals parcels, which require at least 20 acres.
- Claiming scenic by-way status with less than 300 feet of road frontage, or on a road not listed among routes a through r.
- Skipping the perpetual easement or 7 to 10 year recorded commitment that the historic and scenic categories require.
- Offering a farmland parcel without a land management plan approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District or without a minimum 10 year commitment.
- Overlooking that every parcel must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
- Filing a use value program application and fee for a parcel already under a permanent conservation easement, when the sheet says neither is necessary.
- Sending forms containing sensitive personal identifying information by an ordinary channel instead of the secure Document Upload Portal.
Frequently asked questions
What is Open Space - How to Qualify in Loudoun County?
It is a Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue document listing the conditions a parcel must meet for open space use assessments. Conditions are grouped by public purpose, such as historic, scenic, farmland, and permanent easement, each with its own minimum acreage.
How does this relate to Loudoun County property tax?
The sheet is one of the Loudoun County property tax documents from the Commissioner of the Revenue and covers only qualification for open space use assessments. It does not state any tax rate or amount; ask the office at 703-777-0260 for details about your bill.
How many acres do I need to qualify for open space?
At least 5 acres for the historic, scenic resource, Code of Virginia and permanent open space easement categories, and at least 20 acres for farmland and comprehensive planning goals. Acreage always excludes the homesite.
Do I need an easement to qualify?
It depends on the category. Historic and scenic properties need a perpetual easement or a 7 to 10 year recorded commitment with the county. Farmland needs a minimum 10 year commitment. The Code of Virginia category allows a district, easement or recorded commitment.
What road frontage is required for scenic resource protection?
At least 300 feet of frontage on one of the listed scenic by-ways, or contiguity to Goose Creek or Catoctin Creek, plus at least 5 acres and an easement or commitment. Check the sheet's route list for the exact road segments.
Do parcels under a permanent conservation easement have to apply?
No. For parcels under a perpetual conservation easement held pursuant to 10.1-1011 or 10.1-1700 of the Code of Virginia, the sheet says applications for the use value program are not necessary and no filing fee is charged.
Can I fill out Open Space - How to Qualify online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of Loudoun County and does not file anything; the county receives documents only through its own channels.
Where do I get help or send sensitive documents?
Call the Commissioner of the Revenue at 703-777-0260 or email staff. The county's forms page says completed forms with sensitive personal identifying information should go through the secure Document Upload Portal.
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