Chapter 61 Programs

The Chapter 61 programs give Massachusetts landowners an opportunity to reduce their property taxes in exchange for providing important public benefits like clean water, wildlife habitat, rural character, wood products, food , and outdoor recreation.

Because undeveloped land provides valuable public benefits and requires fewer costly town services, the Chapter 61 programs offer a property tax break for landowners willing to commit to keeping some or all of their land undeveloped for a specified period of time.

There are three different Chapter 61 programs:

• Chapter 61 - Forestry
• Chapter 61A - Agricultural or Horticultural 
• Chapter 61B - Recreational

All the programs aim to keep land undeveloped, and each program focuses on a different type of land use.  Choose the program that best fits your current and desired future land use.

Publication - Chapter 61 Programs - Understanding the Massachusetts Ch. 61 Current Use Tax Programs

MA Department of Revenue - Chapterlands Frequently Asked Questions

For additional information, please contact the Assessors Office.

Please note:  The filing deadline for Chapterland applications has been changed to December 1