AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), entitled "An
2act authorizing the creation of agricultural areas," further
3providing for the purchase of agricultural conservation
4easements.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1.  Section 14.1(c)(6)(iv) and (i)(1)(ii) of the act
8of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), known as the Agricultural
9Area Security Law, amended November 23, 1994 (P.L.621, No.96)
10and July 7, 2011 (P.L.247, No.44), are amended to read:

11Section 14.1.  Purchase of agricultural conservation easements.

12* * *

13(c)  Restrictions and limitations.--An agricultural
14conservation easement shall be subject to the following terms,
15conditions, restrictions and limitations:

16* * *

17(6)  An agricultural conservation easement shall not
18prevent:

1* * *

2(iv)  Construction and use of structures on the 
3subject land for the landowner's principal residence or 
4for the purpose of providing necessary housing for 
5seasonal or full-time employees: Provided, That only one 
6such structure may be constructed on no more than two 
7acres of the subject land during the term of the 
8agricultural conservation easement[.]: and Provided 
9further, That the owner of the land subject to the 
10agricultural conservation easement may relinquish and 
11extinguish the right of construction and use of 
12structures conferred by this clause by recording, in the 
13office for the recording of deeds in the county in which 
14the land subject to the agricultural conservation 
15easement is located, an affidavit evidencing the intent 
16to relinquish and extinguish which includes a reference 
17to the original deed of easement.

18* * *

19(i)  Subdivision of land after easement purchase.--

20(1)  Each county program shall specify the conditions
21under which the subdivision of land subject to an
22agricultural conservation easement may be permitted. In no
23case, however, shall a county program permit a subdivision
24which will:

25* * *

26(ii)  convert land which has been devoted primarily
27to agricultural use to another primary use, except that a
28county program may permit one subdivision for the purpose
29of the construction of a principal residence for the
30landowner or an immediate family member, subject to this 

1right being relinquished and extinguished in accordance 
2with subsection (c)(6)(iv).

3* * *

4Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.