WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD (August 7, 2026) – The Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning is pleased to announce the recent preservation of a 256.57-acre farm through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Rural Legacy Program (RLP), further advancing the County’s efforts to protect agricultural land and bringing the total to nearly 44,000 acres of permanently preserved land in Washington County.
The easement was finalized on July 29, 2026, preserving a 256.57-acre farm located on Taylors Landing Road in Sharpsburg. The property features a combination of productive cropland, pasture, and woodland resources, as well as significant scenic, historic, and natural characteristics. The preservation of this property adds to a block of thousands of acres of permanently preserved land in the area and will support neighboring property owners in their efforts to pursue permanent conservation easements.
The Rural Legacy Program is one of Washington County’s signature land preservation programs. With the preservation of this property, the program now protects more than 10,000 acres in Washington County, representing more than 22 percent of all permanently preserved land in the County. RLP is funded and administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), with local administration provided by the Land Preservation Office of the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.
Each year, Washington County farm owners have the opportunity to apply for the Rural Legacy Program, which focuses on preserving agricultural, historic, and environmentally significant lands throughout the County. The newly preserved easement was part of the Fiscal Year 2025 application cycle. Easement applications are submitted by January 31 each year, with offers typically extended the following fall.
The Rural Legacy Program is one component of Washington County’s comprehensive land preservation strategy, which aims to protect agricultural, scenic, historic, and environmentally significant lands. Additional programs supporting this effort include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Program Open Space–Stateside programs; the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) program; the County’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP); local forest conservation easements; federal initiatives such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements; and partnerships with organizations including the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT), and others.
While the majority of funding for land preservation is provided through State sources, Washington County has taken significant financial steps in recent years to supplement these efforts and strengthen its local land preservation programs. These continued investments reinforce the County’s long-term commitment to protecting its agricultural heritage, natural resources, scenic landscapes, and rural character for future generations.
For more information about Washington County’s land preservation programs, please contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
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