Voluntary Agricultural Districts

The purpose of the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) Program is to promote agricultural values and the general welfare of Wake County by increasing the identity of, and pride in, the agricultural community and its way of life. The program also encourages the economic and financial health of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry through protection from non-farm development and other negative impacts on properly managed farms. All parcels are private, agricultural properties and not open to the public for access.

Benefits of Enrolling in the VAD

• Give farm owners a greater voice in local government decisions affecting their community.
• Reduce conflicts between farm and non-farmland users. All purchasers of land near agricultural districts should expect dust, machinery noise, animal waste, chemical odors, and other similar conditions associated with living in a farming area.
• Increase visibility of farm communities in the county.

Eligible tracts of lands for the VAD program must have a minimum of 20 acres of qualified forestry, 10 acres of agriculture, or 5 acres of horticulture per the June 2022 ordinance. For more information, including State of North Carolina statute and Wake County ordinance information, please visit the Program Page.
Organization: Wake County
Organization URL: https://catalog.data.gov/organization/wake-county-nc
Last updated: 2026-02-11T19:02:04.893Z
Tags: Agriculture, Conservation, Environment, North Carolina, Wake County