Charles County Farmland Gets Permanent Protection After State Approves New Easements

LA PLATA, Md. — More Charles County farmland will stay farmland for generations to come after the state approved new permanent agricultural preservation easements earlier this month.

On Wednesday, May 6, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved five new easements through the Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation (MALPF), protecting 534.569 acres across Caroline, Charles and Dorchester counties. The five easements carry a combined cost of $1,625,441.50, with an average price of $3,169.13 per paid acre.

For Charles County — where development continues pushing farther south from Waldorf and the Route 301 corridor — the approvals help preserve some of the rural character and working farmland that longtime residents say is disappearing too quickly.

How The Easements Work

Agricultural preservation easements are voluntary agreements where landowners are paid to permanently give up future development rights while continuing to farm the property. Under Maryland law, purchase prices may not exceed 75% of fair market value or the owner’s asking price, whichever is less. Once approved, the land stays protected no matter who owns it in the future.

MALPF has operated the statewide preservation program since 1977 and has now protected more than 10,000 acres in Charles County alone.

Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks said the approvals continue the state’s larger conservation goals while supporting local farming families.

The Charles County Property

The Charles County easement in this round covers 135 acres approved for $399,000 — roughly $3,000 per acre. The agreement permanently restricts commercial, industrial and residential development on the land while allowing agricultural operations to continue indefinitely. The landowners retain limited rights to apply for up to two residential dwelling lots for personal use, but the farmland itself is protected in perpetuity.

“Every acre we preserve is a promise to our farming families and a vital investment in Maryland’s resilience,” Atticks said in a statement released by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Caroline And Dorchester Counties

The remaining four easements extend protections into Caroline and Dorchester counties. In Caroline County, a 70-acre easement was approved for $241,500. In Dorchester County, the board approved three separate easements — 123.159 acres for $365,711.50 and two adjoining parcels totaling 206.41 acres for a combined $619,230. All properties will remain in agricultural production indefinitely regardless of future ownership.

Charles County’s Preservation Record

Charles County has become one of Southern Maryland’s leaders in land preservation efforts, anchored by major protected areas including the Zekiah Watershed Rural Legacy Area and the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Forest Rural Legacy Area.

The county’s long-term goal is to preserve roughly 50% of its land area — about 147,000 acres — through open space and conservation programs. The latest approvals also continue a steady trend of preservation activity across Southern Maryland. Additional MALPF easements approved in 2025 protected thousands of acres statewide, including multiple farms in Charles and St. Mary’s counties.

For more information about the MALPF program or to inquire about participation, contact Charles County’s Department of Planning and Growth Management at 301-645-0692 or visit mda.maryland.gov/malpf.

Maryland’s Path To 40 By 2040

Statewide, Maryland says the newest easements move the state closer toward its “40 by 2040” conservation goal — established under the Maryland the Beautiful Act — after already reaching its previous “30 by 30” benchmark years ahead of schedule.

Since 1977, MALPF has permanently preserved more than 393,000 acres across all 23 Maryland counties.

Residents interested in Charles County agricultural preservation programs can contact the Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management at 301-645-0692 or visit the Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation website.

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