Clean and Green in Pennsylvania: What It Means for Cabin Builders and Landowners

If you own rural property in Pennsylvania, chances are your land is enrolled in the Clean and Green program and if you’re dreaming of building a home, cabin, or campground, you’ve probably heard that building can affect your

taxes.

At PennWood Cabins, we’ve helped many customers who are navigating this very situation. So, let’s take a closer look at how Clean and Green (Act 319) works and what happens when you build different types of projects on enrolled land.

What Is Clean and Green?

Pennsylvania’s Clean and Green Act (Act 319) gives property owners a tax break for keeping their land in agricultural use, forest reserve, or open space, a great program that helps preserve rural landscapes and keep taxes affordable on large tracts of land. But here’s the catch: If you start using part of your property for non-agricultural or commercial purposes, that section no longer qualifies for Clean and Green, and the county reassesses it at full market value.

Building a Home on Clean and Green Land

If you build a residence on Clean and Green property, the county will typically remove 1 to 2 acres from the program. That small area (the homesite, yard, and driveway) is taxed at the standard market rate, while the rest of the property stays in Clean and Green and continues to receive the lower tax rate.

In short:

✅ You can build your home.

✅ Only the immediate area around it loses the tax break.

✅ The rest of your land stays protected.

This is the most straightforward situation and what most rural homeowners do.

 Building Airbnb Cabins or Short-Term Rentals

Things change when you start adding rental cabins to your property. Each cabin is considered a commercial use, not residential or agricultural. That means the county will likely:

• Remove 1 to 2 acres per cabin from the Clean and Green program.

• Assess each cabin site at full market value.

• Possibly treat your property as a commercial enterprise if several cabins are added.

  
  

What that means in plain terms: The more cabins you add, the more acreage you lose from Clean and Green and the more you’ll pay in property taxes for those commercial sites.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, but you should plan ahead and cluster your cabins in one area to minimize the impact.

Developing a Campground

A campground is handled differently. Instead of removing one or two acres per campsite, the county usually looks at the total developed area, including roads, parking lots, bathhouses, and common areas, and taxes that entire section at market value. The rest of the undeveloped land can stay in Clean and Green. If your campground uses ten acres of a 50-acre property, only those ten acres would lose the tax break.

Smart Planning Tips

Here are a few simple ways to make Clean and Green work in your favor:

1. Check with your county assessor early. Each county interprets Clean and Green rules slightly differently.

2. Keep development in one corner or section of the property so you don’t lose scattered acreage.

3. Consider subdividing. You can remove a small parcel from Clean and Green for your business and leave the rest enrolled.

4. Document everything. Keep copies of your Clean and Green agreement and any correspondence about land use changes.

The Bottom Line

Use Type	Land Removed from Clean and Green	Typical Tax Impact
Home	1–2 acres	Small
Airbnb Cabins	1–2 acres per cabin	Moderate–High
Campground	Total developed area	High (depends on acreage)

At PennWood Cabins, we work with customers across Pennsylvania who are building on rural land, and we know how important it is to balance your vision with your land’s value.

If you’re thinking about adding cabins, rentals, or a small campground to Clean and Green property, our team can help you design and plan in a way that makes sense - both structurally and financially.

📞 Contact PennWood Cabins today to talk through your options and start building your dream with confidence. Call us at 814-967-2002 or email marketing@pennwoodcabins.com.