FY 2026 Local PDR Program

The Virginia Department of Forestry is offering a FY 2026 Local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program grant. The grant provides matching state funds to qualified localities that wish to purchase conservation easements on farm or forestland, thereby preserving working lands. The Office of Working Lands Preservation will develop model policies, certify eligible programs, and manage the Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund to allocate matching grants. Applicants must submit applications via the SAP portal; eVA submissions are not accepted. • Funding is targeted at local governments seeking to protect agricultural and forestland through easements. • The program includes technical assistance for policy creation, eligibility certification, and grant administration. • Applications are due by 31 Oct 2026, with the possibility of annual renewals for future fiscal years.