1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   2. (2) “Urban agricultural property” means real property that is:

      1. (i) not assessed as agricultural land under § 8-209 of this article; and
      2. (ii) used for urban agricultural purposes.

   3. (3) “Urban agricultural purposes” means:

      1. (i) indoor and outdoor crop production activities, including the use of mulch or cover crops to ensure maximum productivity and minimize runoff and weed production, production of value-added agricultural products, beekeeping, raising livestock, composting, and hydroponics and other soilless or controlled-environment crop production methods;
      2. (ii) environmental mitigation activities, including stormwater abatement, pollinator habitat creation and maintenance, and groundwater protection;
      3. (iii) community development activities, including recreational activities, food donations, and food preparation and canning classes;
      4. (iv) economic development activities, including employment and training opportunities, and direct sales to restaurants and institutions;
      5. (v) produce stands used for the sale of produce raised on the premises; and
      6. (vi) agricultural education and agritourism activities.
2. (b) The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation may grant, by law, a tax credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on urban agricultural property.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a tax credit under this section shall be granted for 5 years.

   2. (2)

      1. (i) If the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation grants a tax credit under this section, the jurisdiction granting a tax credit shall evaluate the effectiveness of the credit after 3 years.

      2. (ii) If the jurisdiction granting the tax credit determines that the tax credit is ineffective in promoting urban agricultural purposes, the jurisdiction granting a tax credit may terminate the tax credit if the jurisdiction provides the public:

         1. 1. notice of the termination of the credit at least 1 year in advance; and
         2. 2. the opportunity for comment and appeal.
      3. (iii) The jurisdiction granting a tax credit under this section may extend the tax credit for an additional 5 years.
      4. (iv) Jurisdictions may prioritize renewals of the credit based on the specific priorities of the individual jurisdiction.

4. (d) The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation may provide, by law, for:

   1. (1) the amount of the tax credit under this section;
   2. (2) additional eligibility criteria for the tax credit under this section;
   3. (3) regulations and procedures for the application and uniform processing of requests for the tax credit; and
   4. (4) any other provision necessary to carry out the credit under this section.

Added by Acts 2010, c. 721, § 1, eff. June 1, 2010. Amended by Acts 2013, c. 660, § 1, eff. June 1, 2013; Acts 2014, c. 390, § 1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2021, c. 95, § 1, eff. June 1, 2021; Acts 2026, c. 769, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.