Agricultural Classification
The Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County is required, on an annual basis, to classify all lands within Miami-Dade County as either agricultural or nonagricultural for assessment purposes, and provide a list of denied properties in accordance with Florida Statute 193.461 (Search Florida Statutes).
No lands shall be classified as agricultural lands unless an Application and Return for Agricultural Classification of Lands is filed on or before March 1 of each year. The Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County, before so classifying such lands, may require the taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative to furnish the Property Appraiser such information as may reasonably be required to establish that such lands were actually used for a bona fide agricultural purpose.
All applications and documents in support and detailing such information linking the agricultural use to bona fide commercial operation may be submitted via email to agsubmissions@miamidadepa.gov. All correspondence must contain contact information (name and telephone number) and the folio number or petition number of the property in question.
Agricultural Purposes
"Bona fide agricultural purposes" means good faith commercial agricultural use of the land. In determining whether the use of the land for agricultural purposes is bona fide, the following factors may be taken into consideration:
- The length of time the land has been so utilized
- Whether the use has been continuous
- The purchase price paid
- Size, as it relates to specific agricultural use
- Whether an indicated effort has been made to care sufficiently and adequately for the land in accordance with accepted commercial agricultural practices, including, without limitation, fertilizing, liming, tilling, mowing, reforesting, and other accepted agricultural practices.
- Whether such land is under lease and, if so, the effective length, terms and conditions of the lease; and
- Such other factors as may from time to time become applicable:
- The maintenance of a dwelling on part of the lands used for agricultural purposes shall not in itself preclude an agricultural classification.
- When property receiving an agricultural classification contains a residence under the same ownership, the portion of the property consisting of the residence and curtilage must be assessed separately, pursuant to Florida Statute 193.011, to qualify for the assessment limitation set forth in Florida Statute 193.155.
- Read more about Agricultural Submissions
Eligibility
Read the documentation needed for consideration of an Agriculture Classification request, including various commercial uses.
The physical agricultural use of the property must be in place as of January 1 of the year applied. The financial documentation that must be submitted must also reflect the January 1 use.
Financial documents that link to your agricultural business use are needed when applying.
If you don't have all of the documentation needed at the time you file, you must submit any necessary documents as soon as possible. Incomplete applications cannot be granted and will result in the denial of the classification.
Read the Agriculture Classification Guidelines if you're applying for Apiculture (Bee-yard) Agriculture Classification or other types of commercial operations.
Submit Your Application
The Agriculture Classification request (MD-482) and required documentation must be submitted by March 1.
The lessee of property may make the original application if the lease, or an affidavit executed by the owner, provides that the lessee is empowered to make application for the agricultural classification on behalf of the owner and a copy of the lease or affidavit accompanies the application.
You may submit your application using the following methods:
Apply Online - Use our secure Application Portal
By mail
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser
P.O. Box 013140
Miami, Florida 33101-3140
By fax
305-232-7909
In person
- Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1 Street
Suite 710
Miami, FL 33128 - South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211 Street
2nd Floor - Agriculture Division Office, Suite #207
Cutler Bay, FL 33189
For more information, call 305-234-1454.
You can file a late Agricultural Classification application starting March 2 until the expiration on your August TRIM notice, which is on or before September 20. You may have to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board; a $15 fee may be applicable.
Failure to make a timely application by March 1 shall constitute a waiver for one year of the privilege herein granted for agricultural assessment.
Related Services
Agricultural Classification renewal is automatic if there are no changes from previous year.
The Property Appraiser shall notify the landowner in writing of the denial of Agricultural Classification on or before July 1 of the year for which the application was filed.
The Property Appraiser will reclassify the following lands as non-agricultural:
- Land diverted from an agricultural to a nonagricultural use
- Land no longer being utilized for agricultural purposes
A courtesy notification shall advise the landowner of his or her right to appeal to the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) and of the filing deadline. The Board may also review all lands classified by the property appraiser upon its own motion.
The Agriculture Department will resolve any issues within 30 days of the denial letter mailed on or before July 1, and again for approximately 25 days after the TRIM notices are issued. The deadline date is listed on the TRIM notice.A new application must be filled out if there are any changes such as title, ownership, use or increasing the current use.
It is important to notify the Property Appraiser of any changes in use so we may adjust your classification. The use must be in place by January 1 and financial documentation must also be submitted pertaining to its use.
Change in Ownership Agriculture Classification Removal
- In accordance with Florida Statute 193.461 the property appraiser shall remove Agricultural Classification of Lands on any property whose ownership was changed via recording deed or other documents during the prior calendar year.
- Change in Ownership also includes adding individual (s) to the deed as set forth in Florida Statute 193.1555 or changing to a trust.
- All trust must be submitted for review to determine whether removing Agricultural Classification is warranted.