Rural Property

Definition of "Rural Property"

Written by

Ramzi Dalbah

Samson Properties

When we think of rural property or rural real estate, most of us think of farms, properties with large areas designated to agricultural land. That’s how rural communities generally look. But there’s more to rural properties than how they look. The first distinction for a rural property was made in 1874 by the U.S. Census Bureau. In the beginning, considered rural areas had 8,000 people or less, but in 1910 the figure dropped to 2,500 residents. Today, rural areas consist of less than 500 residents per square mile and fewer than 2,500 residents.

The reasons why rural areas need to be defined are zoning and funding. Zoning administers how the areas are developed and used to protect them while funding deals with the amount of federal funding invested at the county level.

What is considered Rural Property?

While rural properties can be of any type, shape, or form, some types are predominant: farms, ranches, stables, and homes. Because of the architectural aspect of rural life in cities like Upper Marlboro, MD and economy, livestock and heavy equipment are included, and large land is expansive for crops if people want to learn how to grow vegetables.

The general characteristics of the rural property or rural real estate are that at least 50% of the parcel is vacant. The size of the rural property parcel is also at least one acre, perfect for those that want to make some homemade recipes straight from their garden. Those are the two standards, but there are other elements that appraisers consider when determining whether a property is rural or not.

In rural areas, the most reliable way to access running water, heating, and sewers is to supply it for each rural property, unlike suburban properties. Most rural properties have wells for water, furnaces for the heat, and a septic system for the waste. The property’s use can also determine whether it’s rural or not. Raising livestock or farming on your land will make the property more rural than not, and the existence of a dirt road might also sway an appraiser’s decision.