Updated Current Use Mapping Standards

The Use Value Appraisal (Current Use) Minimum Management and Plan Standards outlined on this page became effective May 31, 2026. The mapping standards, dated July 2009, are not valid. 

Current Use Mapping Standards

The following standards for maps submitted in any format have been developed and approved by the Vermont Department of Taxes Property Valuation and Review Division (PVR) and the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation (FPR). These standards apply to maps for initial enrollment, continued enrollment, and partial withdrawal of land in the Current Use Program, a.k.a. Use Value Appraisal Program, as established by the Director of PVR under 32 V.S.A. § 3756, Qualification for use value appraisal.

Download a sample forest appraisal map (PDF).

Maps shall comply with the standards outlined below.

General Information

  1. The map and any data on the map must be legible.
  2. The parcel boundary must be based on the Town Tax Map. 
    • A justification of differences between the UVA parcel boundary and the Town Tax Map must be on the map or attached to the map.
  3. The base map can be a current orthophoto or can be a tracing or digitizing of orthophotos with other relevant mapping data based on Vermont State Plane Coordinate System (1983). 

Format and Scale

  1. The map of the parcel must include tick marks, a frame, or grid; with numbers indicating at least four Vermont State Plane Coordinate System (1983) coordinates within or near the parcel’s boundaries.
  2. Parcels less than 1,000 acres must be mapped at a scale of 1:5,000.
  3. Parcels 1,000 acres or greater may be mapped at an alternate scale not less than 1:20,000 and must be at an increment of 2,500. Except for powerline rights-of-way, if an alternative scale is used, then all exclusions must be mapped at 1:5,000 scale as an additional inset.
  4. The north arrow indicating true north must be included on the map.

Mapping Boundaries and Features

All Current Use maps must show:

  1. Parcel Boundaries: The parcel includes all contiguous land under the same ownership. 
  2. Enrolled Land Boundaries: Define the specific portion of the parcel being enrolled. The enrolled area must be clearly delineated based on the chosen category, subcategory, and—if applicable—forest stands or active agricultural areas that correspond to the acreage chart. 
  3. Excluded Land Boundaries: Delineate the areas under the same ownership and that are contiguous with the areas to be enrolled and are designated for exclusion from the program. 
  4. Non-Boundary Features: Town lines, roads, powerlines and rights-of-way that materially affect the use, management or enrollment of the parcel.

Maps of Managed Forestland must also show:

  1. Aquatic Features: Lakes, ponds, class I & II wetlands (greater than 1/2 acre), and perennial streams, where data are readily available.
  2. Access: Established rights-of-way and/or preferred access routes sufficient to access the property and locate forest stands and features on the ground.
  3. Steep Slopes: Steep Slopes enrolled as Reserve Forestland that contribute to Significant and Sensitive Conditions must be mapped as an overlay of the enrolled Reserve Forestland.

These boundaries and features must be easily distinguished from each other by line pattern, weight, or fill; must be distinguishable on a black and white copy; and must be indicated in a legend.

Buildings

The location of the following buildings on the parcel must be identified, and their enrollment status must be included. This information can be shown on the map or provided as an addendum to the Current Use map.

  1. All buildings located on enrolled land; 
  2. All dwellings; and
  3. All buildings on an adjoining housesite where a farm building is enrolled.

Each enrolled building must be individually identified with a label/symbol chosen by the mapper. These labels/symbols must correspond to a table that matches the Current Use application.

Title Block

The title block on the map must include the following:

  1. Names: Names of all owners listed on the enrollment application; including the grantees of life estates and trustees with their roles included.  For example: John Doe, Trustee;
  2. Town: Town(s) in which the parcel is located (regardless of enrollment status);
  3. Scale: Scale (numeric and bar scale);
  4. School Property Account Number (SPAN): Provide the SPAN for each parcel represented (if the map is for a new parcel and the SPAN is not yet assigned, provide the first 6 digits and leave the last 5 digits blank);
  5. Draftsperson: Name of draftsperson of most current draft;
  6. Contact/Firm: Name of firm and phone number and/or email contact of preparer of most current draft;
  7. Forester License: Forester name, license number and expiration date or license stamp or seal of map preparer, if applicable; 
  8. Basemap Year: Year of base map data; 
  9. Date: Dates prepared/revised; and
  10. Purpose of Filing: Indication of purpose of filing, such as new plan, new enrollment, transfer, Plan update, Plan amendment, discontinuance, addition to enrollment (including adding agricultural buildings), and/or revision.

Acreage

An Acreage Chart must be on or attached to the Map.  

The Acreage Chart must show, in separate columns, the mapped acreages and pro-rated acreage of each category and subcategory to be enrolled and totals of each category and subcategory by town and SPAN. The Acreage Chart must show the grand list acreage for each town in which the parcel is located.

Enrollment Categories may include:

  1. Agricultural Land
  2. Managed Forestland by stand number and associated enrollment subcategory (less than 1 mile from nearest class 1,2, or 3 road will be assumed unless otherwise noted):
    • Productive Forestland
    • Sugarbush
    • Reserve forestland 
    • Significant Wildlife Habitat
    • Special Places and Sensitive Sites
    • Ecologically Significant Treatment Areas, by subcategory (ESTA)
    • Miscellaneous
    • Site IV Land 
    • Open/Idle Agricultural Land
    • Conservation Land
  3. Forestland greater than 1 mile from road.   Forestland (other than Open/Idle Ag) greater than 1 mile (straight line distance) from the nearest class 1, 2, or 3 road must be delineated for each stand or enrollment area, the acreage of forestland greater than 1 mile from the nearest class 1, 2, or 3 road must also be reported. 
  4. Excluded land. If a parcel contains more than one contiguous area of excluded land, the acreage for each area must be totaled and reported in the chart separately.

All enrollment subcategories delineated on the map must correspond to the applicable forest management plan for the property when applicable.

Prorating Enrolled Acres

The total acreage shown on the map for each town must match the parcel acreage listed on the Grand List.
If the mapped acreage (enrolled plus excluded) does not equal the Grand List acreage:

  1. The mapped enrolled acreage of each town must be prorated so the total acreage equals the Grand List acreage.
  2. Excluded areas shall not be prorated.
  3. The proration factor used must be shown on the map.

Additional Acreage Chart Requirements for Reserve Forestland Subcategory

  1. The Acreage Chart must clearly indicate the prorated acreage of each stand or enrolled area contributing to Significant and Sensitive Conditions, unless the Significant and Sensitive Condition is a Steep Slope.
  2. The total prorated parcel acreage of Steep Slopes enrolled as Reserve Forestland contributing to Significant and Sensitive Conditions must be shown on the acreage chart. 
  3. A Reserve Forestland Eligibility acreage chart on or attached to the map must demonstrate that the Significant and Sensitive Condition eligibility threshold for Reserve Forestland has been met. This chart will provide:
    • Total prorated enrolled land (Managed Forestland + Agricultural Land) 
    • Total prorated sum of Significant and Sensitive Conditions 
    • Percentage of Total enrolled land comprised by Significant and Sensitive Conditions