The Planning Section works to preserve Delaware’s agricultural heritage through farmland preservation and land-use planning. The professional planning staff advises and supports the Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation.

Delaware’s farmland preservation program has two major components – Agricultural Preservation Districts and Agricultural Conservation Easements.

Preservation Districts are voluntary agreements where landowners agree to continue to only use their land only for agriculture for at least 10 years. Agricultural easements are purchases of development rights by the Foundation, placing a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property. Landowners must enroll their farm into a Preservation District before they can sell an easement.