Statute/Policy

Category

Local/ State/ Federal

Brief Synopsis/Intent/Purpose

Source

Agricultural Areas Conservation and Protection Act (505 ILCS 5/)

Land Use

State

To protect and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products

IL Department of Agriculture

Farmland Preservation Act (505 ILCS 75/)

Land Use

State

Recommends that the State minimize the conversion of prime farmland that results from the direct or indirect effects of State programs.

IL Department of Agriculture

Illinois Conservation Easement Act (505 ILCS 35/)

Farm Procedure

State

Keep certain marginal agricultural land out of crop production or pasture to protect soil and water quality and protect and support fish and wildlife habitat.

IL Department of Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture Act (505 ILCS 135/)

Research

State

To provide a means to find funding for research and tests that will find promising new agricultural practices and products and tailor them to the specific agricultural conditions of Illinois creating a competitive advantage for the state.

IL Department of Agriculture

Food and Agriculture Research Act (505 ILCS 82/)

Research

State

Secure funds to support targeted research initiatives so that Illinois will continue to meet tomorrow's food and agricultural needs while using our natural resources responsibly.

IL Department of Agriculture

Illinois AgriFIRST Program Act of 2001 (505 ILCS 19/)

Grants/ Funding

State

The Department must develop and administer an Illinois AgriFIRST Program to enhance the value of Illinois agriculture products or by-products through grants to current and potential processors.

IL Department of Agriculture

Farm Bill 2007 Proposal (Title II: Conservation)

Land Use

Federal

Improve and increase funding of USDA conservation programs to better serve farmers, the environment, and all US citizens

US Department of Agriculture

State Farmland Assessment

Taxes

State

To assess farmland based upon its soil productivity index, which is determined by a complicated process by the Univ. of IL, the IDA, and the IDR.

American Farmland Trust Research Center

Protection of Farming Operations from Nuisance Suits

Right-to-Farm

State

Protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits when nonfarm uses, such as subdivisions, intrude into farming areas.

American Farmland Trust Research Center

Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Act

Land Use

State

Requires anyone seeking to rezone or subdivide agricultural land must notify the county Soil and Water Conservation district

American Farmland Trust Research Center

Local Land Resource Management Planning Act

Planning

State

Encourages counties and municipalities to develop Local Land Resource Management Plans

American Farmland Trust Research Center

FPA Agricultural Protection Area Policy (NIPC/CMAP)

Land Use

Local

Maintain areas designated as "Agricultural Protection Areas" for farming and uses supportive of the farming economy and community.

American Farmland Trust Research Center

McHenry County Land Use Plan; Year 2010 Update

Land Use

Local

Allows limited conversion of agricultural land use only in those areas which are accessible to public services and only in those areas which are not economically viable for farming based on certain factors and which will not adversely affect the productivity of adjacent agricultural lands.

American Farmland Trust Research Center

McHenry County Zoning Ordinance

Land Use

Local

Provides 2 agricultural zoning districts: A-1 has a minimum lot size of 40 acres, reduced from 160 acres in 1994; A-2 permits individual residences, 1 acre is the minimum lot size but may contain only 1 residence; only land deemed "unsuitable" for ag use may be designated A-2; Planned Development Districts, "Estate" zoning (1-5 acres)

American Farmland Trust Research Center

Municipal Planning Jurisdiction

Land Use

State

A municipality that has adopted its own zoning ordinance can object to rezoning of any unincorporated land that lies within one and one-half miles of its corporate limits and force a 3/4 majority vote of the County Board on the rezoning petition.

American Farmland Trust Research Center

Township Planning Commissions

Land Use

State

A township can object to rezoning of any unincorporated areas of the township and force a 3/4 majority vote of the County Board on the rezoning change.

American Farmland Trust Research Center

Will County Zoning Ordinance

Land Use

Local

Two agricultural zoning districts: A-1 (minimum of 10 acre lot size) and A-2 (minimum of 2.5 acre lot size), purpose is to establish zoning districts in which agriculture and certain related uses are encouraged as prinicipal and primary uses of land; Planned Unit Developments

Will County Department of Land Use

Will County Land Resource Management Plan

Land Use

Local

To respect farmland as a viable and desirable land use and as an important component of the local economy (strategies provided)

Will County Department of Land Use

Kane County Zoning Ordinance

Land Use

Local

Kane Co. has a long range goal to preserve prime agricultural land. The F (Farming) Districts are part of the implementation of this goal. F-1 (no smaller than 1 acre, no larger than 40 acres) are primarily for agriculture and one family dwellings; F-2 districts are for agriculturally related uses such as sales, marketing, warehouses, and research

Kane County Department of Planning

Kane County Land Resource Management Plan

Land Use

Local

To protect farmland as a valuable natural resource and an economically productive land use

Kane County Department of Planning

Kane County Farmland Protection Program

Land Use

Local

Purchase development rights with federal farmland protection program grant (as of winter 2004, almost 3,000 acres had been preserved due to this program).

Kane County Department of Planning