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Rural Land Takings in Virginia

Rural acreage is valued for what it could become as much as for what it is. A corridor can foreclose both.

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Introduction

Acreage is not interchangeable

Rural land value turns on frontage, access, topography, timber and development potential. A corridor across the middle of a tract can affect all of them at once.

Highest and best use matters more here than almost anywhere. Land valued only as it is currently used may be significantly undervalued.

Quick answerA corridor that removes the only practical building site can cost far more than the acres inside it.
Key topics

What drives rural value

Road frontage

Access to a public road and its length.

ExploreDevelopment potential

Highest and best use rather than current use.

ExploreTimber

Standing timber removed from a corridor.

ExploreDivision of the tract

A corridor that splits usable land.

ExploreUtility corridors

Restrictions across large parcels.

ExploreAccess routes

Interior access and how it is maintained.

Explore
How it works

Establishing a rural claim

Identify highest and best use

What the land could reasonably support.

Locate the corridor

What it crosses and what it forecloses.

Assess remaining usability

Building sites, access, division.

Value timber and improvements

Separately where appropriate.

Value the residue realistically

As affected land, not raw acreage.

Property owner considerations

Points to raise early

•An appraisal that values rural land only at its current use may understate it substantially.
•A corridor across the only viable building site affects the whole parcel.
•Interior access provisions in an easement determine how often crews cross your land.
•Confirm with licensed Virginia counsel how highest and best use is being treated.
Related resources

Where to go next

Compensation

What just compensation covers in Virginia.

Read morePartial Taking

Where most property type questions arise.

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Find the situation that matches yours.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is undeveloped land worth less to a condemnor?
Value rests on highest and best use, not on whether the land is currently developed.
What about timber?
Timber removed from a corridor forms part of the loss and should be accounted for.
Does a corridor affect the whole tract?
It can. Division, access and lost building sites reach well beyond the strip.

Work out how this applies to your property

Tell us what is happening and we will point you to the Virginia resources that fit your situation.

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