Pennsylvania is a beautiful state that’s home to many farms. With that in mind, you might be thinking about buying a farm of your own. Before you do this, zoning will play a major role in what you can and can’t do on your new farmland. With that in mind, here are a few issues to be aware of.
Flood zones
As you know, certain land is more prone to flooding than other areas. If you’re going to buy a farm, it’s important to find out if any of your new real estate parcel will be in a flood zone. Land that’s in a flood zone isn’t always a bad thing. The deposits that floods leave behind can benefit your farm’s soil. Also, remember that you’ll need flood insurance if your land is in one of these zones.
Zoning determines raising animals
One aspect of farming is raising animals. With that said, you might think that owning a farm allows you to raise any animal you want. However, this isn’t the case. Instead, the animals you can raise depends on what your zoning laws allow, and these rulings rarely change. It’s important to know what your land allows before purchasing it, especially if you plan on raising certain animals.
Getting potential assistance
It’s also important to find out about any potential assistance you can qualify for when buying a farm. If you have land designated and zoned for farming, certain states have programs in place that can give you financial assistance. The United States Department of Agriculture also has programs that can help provide financial assistance for building ponds, controlling erosion and similar conservation-related projects.
As you can see, there are a few things to watch out for before you buy a farm. If you would like further help ensuring your farm purchase goes smoothly, it could be wise to contact a real estate lawyer. By doing this, you can also potentially avoid any aspects of your new farm taking you by surprise.
