Mow-to-Own Program (Beatrice, NE)

The City of Beatrice, Nebraska runs a Mow-to-Own Program that allows adjacent homeowners, individuals, and developers to acquire city-owned vacant lots after proving they are capable, willing, and consistent with maintaining it. Potential eligible applicants include homeowners living adjacent to a vacant city-owned lot who wish to expand their current property and individuals or developers looking to build new housing. Interested parties, complete a program application. If approved, the lot will be assigned a specific value and a written agreement outlining the process for earning credit towards that value will be developed. Once the agreement is signed, the applicant begins maintenance and “earning” the lot. The agreements include restrictions for how the lot can be used and the process for “defaulting” on the care and stewardship of the lot.

Communities seeking creative solutions to an abundance of vacant land and limited maintenance resources can learn from the wide range of mow-to-own programs in existence across the country. Reviewing multiple programs will demonstrate the range of features, considerations, and creativity available.