San Diego Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Program

Adopted in 2014, San Diego’s Urban Agriculture Zone Program aims to create new green spaces, build community, and increase access to produce in neighborhoods lacking fresh food.  To do so, the program offers owners of blighted properties a lower property tax rate if they submit plans to turn their parcels into community gardens or other agricultural uses.  To foster community involvement, property owners’ plans must include some type of public engagement, which could include the distribution or sale of food, educational activities on the site, or community access to garden space.  The program also promotes sustainability by requiring property owners to meet organic farming standards.  The City estimates that the program could help transform up to 2,000 eligible parcels.