Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§4208 Limitations
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY › § 4208
Summary
The law says the federal government can't use these rules to control how private or non‑Federal land is used or to change the property rights of landowners. If there is a national emergency, the chapter's rules do not apply when farmland is taken or used for national defense.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §4208
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)This chapter does not authorize the Federal Government in any way to regulate the use of private or non-Federal land, or in any way affect the property rights of owners of such land.
(b)None of the provisions or other requirements of this chapter shall apply to the acquisition or use of farmland for national defense purposes during a national emergency.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–624 inserted before period at end “during a national emergency”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective six months after Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1549 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 4201 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 4208
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73