Purchase of Development Rights
Purchase of Development Rights, or PDR as it is more commonly known, is Kentucky's first Agricultural Conservation Easement program facilitated by a local government.
Through PDR, the Rural Land Management Board purchases farm owners’ development rights (their right to ever develop the farm commercially), thereby preserving it as farmland forever.
This program is important to Lexington and Fayette County because of the area's booming equine, cattle and tourism industry, which is all fueled by the area farmland's beauty and high-quality soils.
Apply to PDR by Nov. 14.
The PDR application cycle is now open through Nov. 14, 2024. If your farm is at least 20 acres, or you have adjacent tracts that can be combined to equal that minimum, you may be able to receive financial compensation to protect your farmland from future development. Please read this info sheet to learn more about PDR, and email Beth Overman at eoverman@lexingtonky.gov if you are interested in applying. We also recommend reviewing the following legal documents as well as the overview of the USDA-NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program that is utilized for match funding:
Sample deed of easement template
Sample lease subordination agreement
Sample mortgage subordination agreement
How many farms are in PDR?
There are 285 farms permanently protected by PDR, totaling nearly 31,085 acres, with 2,018 acres under contract.
How is PDR governed?
The Rural Land Management Board governs PDR. The members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Urban County Council.
The members use Ordinance 4-2000 as their guide.
2024 meeting schedule
All meetings are at 3 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month via Zoom unless otherwise noted.
Jan. 24 – agenda
Feb. 28
March 27
April 24
May 22
June 26
July 24 – agenda
Aug. 28
Sept. 25
Oct. 23
Dec. 11
Previous years' minutes (The previous years' minutes are stored on a Google drive, arranged by year.)
How do I add housing or infrastructure to my PDR farm?
The PDR easement requires landowners to obtain the permission of the Rural Land Management Board before adding new housing or expanding existing housing, and before adding paving. If your farm was eased in 2007 or after, it likely includes an impervious surface limit, so adding farm infrastructure such as barns, equipment sheds, etc., also requires approval. We want your farm to flourish and will guide you through this process. The first step is to complete the Housing and Infrastructure Request Form available via the link below and submit it via email to the PDR Director, Beth Overman, at eoverman@lexingtonky.gov. If all required documents are submitted by the deadline shown in the chart below, the request should be considered at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Ms. Overman will review the submitted application and contact you prior to that meeting.
2024 Meeting Date – Application Deadline
Jan. 24 – Deadline Jan. 10
Feb. 28 – Deadline Feb. 14
March 27 – Deadline March 13
April 24 – Deadline April 10
May 22 – Deadline May 8
June 26 – Deadline June 12
July 24 – Deadline July 10
Aug. 28 – Deadline Aug. 14
Sept. 25 – Deadline Sept. 11
Oct. 23 – Deadline Oct. 9
Dec. 11 – Deadline Nov. 20