Indiana Classified Forest and Wildlands Program

Indiana's property-tax program for private forest, wetland, shrubland and grassland. Landowners with at least 10 acres who follow a professionally written management plan get their land assessed at a much lower value. Enrolled land also gets free visits from DNR foresters and wildlife biologists, priority for cost-share, and can be "green" certified.

• At least 10.0 contiguous acres of forest, wetland, shrubland and/or grassland (non-forest wildlife habitat).

• Native forest must have at least 40 square feet of basal area per acre or at least 1,000 timber-producing trees per acre; plantations need at least 400 well-established timber-producing trees.

• Not allowed on classified land: grazing by domestic livestock, building houses or sheds, intentional burning outside a written plan, growing Christmas trees.

• A written management plan is required before applying.

Reinspection at least once every seven years and an annual report. If land is withdrawn, back taxes (up to 10 years) plus 10% per year interest are due; land entered after June 30, 2006 also pays $100 per withdrawal and $50 per acre withdrawn. Classified status transfers with the land on sale.

Published amounts: Program landowners receive a property tax reduction in return for following a professionally written management plan. Brochure: "the State of Indiana agrees to see that the assessed value of the land is significantly reduced and taxed on that preferential assessment."

Contact your district forester. After an initial inspection and a written management plan, a registered land surveyor writes a legal description; the application is signed by the landowner, the county assessor and the State Forester, then recorded at the county courthouse.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published; enrollment is through a district forester at any time.