TMK guide · Land rules

Important Agricultural Lands (IAL)

Farm land the State has designated to keep in agriculture, with incentives for owners.

Important Agricultural Lands are farm lands the State Land Use Commission has designated under part III of HRS chapter 205, to keep them in agriculture for the long run.

Lands are designated when the owner petitions, or from County maps sent to the Commission. Owners of designated land can qualify for State incentives. Taking land out of IAL later is harder than a normal district change.

IAL sits inside the Agricultural district, so the farm use limits of that district apply as well.

What the law says, and who keeps it

• HRS chapter 205, part III, Important Agricultural Lands
• State Land Use Commission

What the ParcelSheet card shows

Whether any part of the lot is designated Important Agricultural Lands, from the State GIS layer.

Who to ask

The State Land Use Commission, and the County Planning Department.

See it on a real lot

• TMK 4-4-2-016-063, Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi
• TMK 1-3-3-025-016, Pālolo, Oʻahu
• TMK 2-2-3-010-014, Pukalani, Maui

Checked 2026-10-17. This page explains a term in plain words. It is not legal advice; the County or State office named above decides.

More land rules

• Special Management Area (SMA)
• State Land Use Districts
• FEMA flood zones and what X shaded means
• FIRM panels and LOMAs
• Tsunami evacuation and extreme tsunami zones
• Sea level rise exposure area
• Lava flow hazard zones 1 to 9
• CPR lots (condominium property regime)
• ʻOhana units and accessory dwelling units
• Shoreline setback
• Cesspool conversion (Act 125)
• Conveyance tax
• Property tax classes by County
• TMK (Tax Map Key)