2026/03/31
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Application Guide for Letter of Approval for Agricultural Structures & Certificates of Exemption

Letter of Approval & Certificates of Exemption for Agricultural Structures - Application Guide

 

(1) Introduction
 

Under the terms and conditions of land grant, a farmer who wishes to construct agricultural structures (e.g. greenhouses, livestock sheds, hatcheries, fish ponds, store rooms, etc.) on leasehold private agricultural land must apply to the Lands Department (“the LandsD”) for a Letter of Approval (“LoA”) for Agricultural Structures. Prior to the commencement of any works, Certificates of Exemption (“CoE”) in respect of building, site formation and drainage works must be obtained from the LandsD.  

To facilitate applications by farmers and to reduce the time for processing applications, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (“the AFCD”) will receive both LoA and CoE application forms on behalf of the LandsD and conduct preliminary processing concurrently. Taking into the account the advice of the AFCD and other relevant departments, the LandsD will further consider whether to accept the concerned applications.

The applications are not applicable to agricultural structure exceeding 4.57 metres in height or comprising more than a single storey, and movable or assembly structures such as cargo containers or assembly houses.

 

(2) Exemption
 

Rainproof and shading sheds constructed of frame and transparent polyethylene film/shading nets (see examples in Figure 1 to 4 below) are exempted from obtaining Letters of Approval, but controlled environment greenhouses and livestock structures are not entitled to such an exemption.

 

Fig.1 Fig.2
   
Fig.3 Fig.4

 

(3) Eligibility Criteria
   
  The following factors will be considered when an application for Letter of Approval is processed:
   
  a. Whether there is a need for erecting the structure(s) from the agriculture or fisheries point of view. The structure(s) must be used directly for farming purposes or related directly to the farming operation.
     
  b. The scale of production and marketing or selling of produce. Generally speaking, the applicant's farming scale should be commensurate with the structures proposed to be erected in order to substantiate his or her application (*Note1).
     
  c. The applicant must be the owner of the farming land, a tenant or an authorized user of the land.
     
  d. Except for designated commercial facilities for operating agriculture/fisheries-related ancillary activities endorsed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, the farm shall not possess any of the following commercial recreational facilities:
    i. Catering facilities offering services, such as canteen or restaurant open to visitors;
    ii. Indoor recreation facilities that are unrelated to the promotion of agriculture/fisheries, such as game room, karaoke room or mahjong room open to visitors; and
    iii. Lodging facilities in the form of holiday bungalow, hostel or guestroom open to visitors.
       
    * Note 1: The AFCD will assess the economic viability and activities of the farm based on the farm size, types of crops grown and mode of farm operation, etc.

 

(4) Other Conditions
   
  a. The applicant must submit a completed application form, a farming plan related to crop production and farm operation (if applicable) and a floor plan of the applied structure(s).
  b.

If the structure(s) is used for keeping farm tools and other sundry goods, the size of the structure(s) should be in line with the farm acreage and is usually around 10-15 square metres each.

 

(5) Application Procedures
   
  a. The applicant or authorized person with valid authorization must apply to the AFCD in person. The office addresses are as follows:

 

Type of Farm Office Address
Crop farm Agricultural Extension Office 5/F, Yuen Long Government Offices,
2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long
Tel.: 2476 2424 or 2656 2333
Fish farm Au Tau Fisheries Office Milestone 27, Castle Peak Road,
Au Tau, Yuen Long;
Tel.: 2471 9174
Livestock farm
(for pig/chicken farms only)		 Livestock Farm Licensing Section Tai Lung Experimental Station,
Lin Tong Mei, Sheung Shui;
Tel.: 2462 7443

 

  b. The applicant or authorized person must submit the following documents / information when applying for a Letter of Approval and Certificates of Exemption :
     
     i.   A completed and signed “Letter of Approval for Agricultural Structures on Private Agricultural Land Application Form” (Form LA01) and “Application Form for Certificate(s) of Exemption in respect of Building, Site Formation & Drainage Works (for erection of agricultural structures under Letter of Approval)” (Form CE/1 (AGR));
       
    ii. If the roofed-over area of any proposed agricultural structures exceeds 5,000 ft2 (464.51 m2) without involving construction of critical structural elements (*Note 2), please submit a duly completed and signed “Letter of Appointment from Building Contractor and T2 Competent Person” (Form CE/2 (AGR)). If the roofed-over area of any proposed agricultural structures exceeds 1,000 ft2 (92.90 m2) but involving construction of critical structural elements, please submit duly completed and signed Form CE/2 (AGR) and “Letter of Appointment from Registered Structural Engineer/Registered Professional Engineer” (Form CE/3 (AGR));
       
    iii. A full list of the structures to be constructed as proposed in the application form and their floor plans with details of the use, length, width, height and number of storey of each structure;
       
    iv. For crop farms, a farming plan with details related to crop production and farm operation should be submitted; 
       
    v. A lot index plan (Scale 1:1 000) with farm boundary and locations of the proposed agricultural structure(s) clearly shown. Applicants can purchase a lot index plan of all districts at both Map Publications Centre, Hong Kong and District Survey Office, Yuen Long or online at the Hong Kong Map Service (HKMS) 2.0 (https://www.hkmapservice.gov.hk). For livestock farms (for pig/chicken farms only), land survey documents and layout plans issued by a practising authorized land surveyor must be submitted together with the application form;
       
    vi. A tenant must submit a copy of valid tenancy agreement(s) and a letter of consent from the respective landowner;
       
    vii. Land title information (i.e. a copy of the land registration record issued by the Land Registry within three months prior to the date of application). These records are available for purchase at District Land Registries;
       
    viii. A Ground Features Report (GFR) issued by a Registered Structural Engineer (RSE) / Authorized Person (AP) / T2 Competent Person / Building Contractor; and
       
    ix. The applicant must sign an undertaking in the application form to undertake to demolish part or all of the structures as and when requested by the HKSAR Government, and indemnify the Government against all actions, proceedings, claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the erection of the structures.
       
  c. To protect his/her own interest, the applicant may check with the Survey and Mapping Office of the LandsD to see whether the relevant lot is within development reserve or existing development area before appointing a land surveyor to draw a farm plan. This will ensure that his/her farm investment will not be affected by Government works in future.
     
  d. Application forms can be obtained free of charge from the offices listed in paragraph 5 (a) above.
       
 
Download Letter of Approval for Agricultural Structures on Private Agricultural Land Application Form (Form LA01)   (574KB)  
Application Guide for LoA and CoE application  (209KB)                                                   

“Application Form for Certificate(s) of Exemption in respect of Building, Site Formation & Drainage Works (for erection of agricultural structures under Letter of Approval)” (Form CE/1 (AGR)), “Letter of Appointment from Building Contractor and T2 Competent Person” (Form CE/2 (AGR)), and “Letter of Appointment from Registered Structural Engineer/Registered Professional Engineer” (Form CE/3 (AGR)) can all be obtained from the LandsD’s website –

Webpage: https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/public-forms/exemption.html


Download the sample GFR and the corresponding Points to Note  (816KB) 

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Adobe Acrobat

 * Note 2: Critical structural elements include cantilevered balconies and canopies, long span beams, long span slabs and foundation footings.

 

(6) Procedures for Handling Applications
   
  a. a. Upon receipt of an application, the AFCD officers will visit the farm to check whether there is a genuine need for agricultural or fisheries operation. After a preliminary review, the AFCD will send the application documents to the relevant departments for comments at the same time, and then make suggestions to the LandsD. The AFCD will consider each item on the list of proposed structures in the application form and may recommend approval for all items or some of them.
     
  b. The AFCD will make recommendations to the LandsD for issuing the Letters of Approval in respect of agricultural structures to be constructed on private agricultural land only.
     
  c. Where necessary, relevant departments may request for supplementary documents or amendments of the proposed construction details. If the applicant fails to provide the required documents in a timely manner, or to accept the amendments proposed by various departments, the processing of the application may be delayed or ultimately not approved.
     

 

(7) The Granting of Letter of Approval and Certificates of Exemption
   
    Upon receipt of the recommendation from the AFCD and other relevant departments on the applications, the LandsD will further consider whether a Letter of Approval and Certificates of Exemption should be granted. If the applications are accepted, a Letter of Approval and Certificates of Exemption will be issued to the applicant directly by the LandsD.