The Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase (AEPP) program is a statewide program administered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture that preserves farmland through the purchase of permanent agricultural easements. AEPP receives funding from the Clean Ohio Fund, a bond initiative approved by Ohio voters in 2000.

Any Ohio landowner may apply to AEPP, provided their property is at least 40 acres in size, enrolled in CAUV and an agricultural district.

Landowners must apply to the AEPP through a Local Sponsor (i.e. Board of County Commissioners, Board of Township Trustees, or a qualified non-profit organization authorized to hold agricultural conservation easements). Landowners may not apply directly to AEPP.

A Local Sponsor completes an online application using information gathered from the landowner, County Planner, and Soil and Water Conservation District staff. Local sponsors must access the online application by creating a user account and following the online application instructions.

The online application is due at 5:00 p.m. on May 23, . A printed copy of the completed online application and attachment must be received by the office of farmland preservation by this deadline. At that time, the AEPP database will be locked and no more entries will be allowed.

You can write to us:

Ohio Department of Agriculture
Office of Farmland Preservation
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-3399

You can call us: (614) 728-6210

You can email us: farmlandpres@agri.ohio.gov