Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program
The County of San Diego has an agricultural conservation program known as the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program. The PACE Program promotes the long term preservation of agriculture in the County of San Diego.
Under the PACE Program, willing agricultural property owners are compensated for placing a perpetual easement on their property that limits future uses to agriculture. As a result, the agricultural land is preserved and the property owner receives compensation making the land’s continued use for agriculture more viable.
Program Contact: Michael Blackmun | AgConservation@sdcounty.ca.gov
The PACE Program is now accepting applications! Applications will be ranked and selected for participation annually, the next application review cycle will occur in Spring 2024. To be notified of future application review cycles and other announcements on the PACE Program, please subscribe to our mailing list by clicking the banner below.
The County’s Board of Supervisors adopted an expansion to the properties eligible to participate in the PACE Program on March 3, 2021 (10).
March 3, 2021 Board of Supervisors Hearing Report Documents
This expansion no longer requires that applicants must have experienced a density reduction under the 2011 General Plan Update. Properties must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for the expanded program:
- Active agriculture for at least two years immediately prior to application
- Property must be zoned A70 – Limited Agriculture, A72 – General Agriculture, RR – Rural Residential, S90 – Holding Area, or S92 – General Rural
To determine Zoning and program eligibility, please generate a Property Summary Report for the property using the Self-Service portal.
If you have any questions, please contact Michael Blackmun at AgConservation@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 505-6677.
The following links document guidance received from the County of San
Diego Board of Supervisors on elements of the Purchase of Agricultural
Conservation Easement (PACE) Program including program implementation,
funding, mitigation bank, and easement acquisitions.
PACE Program Implementation
Pilot Program
• May 15, 2013 Board Letter
• May 15, 2013 Board Minute Order
• June 19, 2013 Board Letter
• June 19, 2013 Board Minute Order
• July 17, 2013 Board Letter
• July 17, 2013 Board Minute Order
Permanent Program Established
• December 4, 2013 Board Letter
• December 4, 2013 Board Minute Order
•
Endagered Habitats League Letter of
Support
• SD Farm Bureau Letter of Support
PACE Program Mitigation Bank
• September 17, 2014 Board Letter
• September 17, 2014 Board Minute Order
• Ordinance to Establish Mitigation Credit Fee
PACE Program Expansion
• February 14, 2018 Board Letter
• February 14, 2018 Board Minute Order
• March 3, 2021 Board Letter
• March 3, 2021 Board Minute Order
PACE Program Acquisitions
PACE acquisitions are presented to the Board of Supervisors only when the acquisition cost is over $500,000. Below are the Board documents related to acquisitions which cost the County more than $500,000 only.
2014 Acquisitions
• August 6, 2014 Board Letter
• August 6, 2014 Board Minute Order
• September 17, 2014 Board Letter
• September 17, 2014 Board Minute Order
2016 Acquisitions
• October 19, 2016 Board Letter
• October 19, 2016 Board Minute Order
•
November 16, 2016 Board Letter
• November 16, 2016 Board Minute Order
2019 Acquisitions
• August 7, 2019 Board Letter
• August 7, 2019 Board Minute Order
• September 11, 2019 Board Letter
• September 11, 2019 Board Minute Order
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