New Jersey Forest Stewardship Program

New Jersey woodland owners with at least 5 forested acres can get Farmland Assessment property tax rates by following a 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan written by an approved consulting forester and approved by the NJ Forest Service. Unlike the older woodland management plan route, there is no income requirement, but the owner must manage the forest every year according to the plan and monitor progress in plan years 3, 6 and 9.

• Minimum of 5 acres of forest land, or land capable of being a forest and scheduled to be forested (at least 10% canopy cover or capable of it over the plan period)

• Must follow an approved forest management plan written by a consulting forester

• Must actively manage the forest every year according to the approved Forest Stewardship Plan and monitor progress

10-year Forest Stewardship Plan; monitoring every three years (plan years 3, 6, 9); record keeping required and subject to NJ Forest Service inspection. Existing plans that want the no-income-requirement benefit must convert to a plan meeting N.J.A.C. 7:3-5.2. No enrollment fee.

Published amounts: Woodland owners can be eligible for reduced property taxes if they follow a state-approved forestry plan. There are no longer income requirements to qualify (NJFW Private Lands page).

Contact a NJ Approved Forester and / or a NJ Forest Service Regional Office. A NJ Forest Service forester will meet once with any New Jersey landowner to discuss forest stewardship and explain cost share assistance.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; ongoing enrollment. Is there a fee to enroll? No.