WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD (November 13, 2026) – The Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning is proud to announce the State of Maryland has awarded Washington County $2,088,793.74 through the Fiscal Year 2027 Rural Legacy Program, marking the largest grant allocation awarded to any Rural Legacy Area in the State this year. The award was announced Wednesday, October 29, 2026, and will support the continued permanent preservation of valuable agricultural, environmental, and historic lands throughout Washington County.
Funded by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Rural Legacy Program provides financial assistance for the acquisition of conservation easements on properties with significant agricultural, environmental, and historical value. In Washington County, the program focuses on preserving land in and around the Antietam Battlefield area, helping protect the County’s rural character, agricultural resources, and historic landscapes for future generations.
Washington County settled its first Rural Legacy conservation easement in 2000 and has since permanently preserved more than 10,000 acres through the program. The latest award builds on these ongoing preservation efforts and provides additional resources to protect the County’s rural and agricultural heritage.
To qualify for the program, properties must be located within Washington County’s designated Rural Legacy Area, have an agricultural use assessment, and possess transferable development rights. Eligible property owners may work with the County to explore the conservation easement process and determine whether their property meets program requirements.
The Rural Legacy Program is administered locally by the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.
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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