Draft a Land Lease Agreement in 30 Seconds

How to Write a Land Lease Agreement

A land lease — also called a ground lease — rents out a parcel of land rather than a building. The tenant gets the right to use the ground for an agreed purpose: farming it, grazing livestock, parking, or putting up a structure they own. Because the subject is the land itself, a land lease is built differently from an apartment or office lease. It revolves around the parcel, the permitted use, and what happens to the land and any improvements when the term ends.

Describe the Parcel Precisely

Identify the land with enough detail that there is no ambiguity about what is being leased. Include the acreage, a legal or recorded description, the assessor's parcel number (APN), the zoning or use designation, road frontage and access, and any existing improvements such as a well, barn, or fencing. For a partial parcel, attach or reference a sketch or survey so the leased area is clear.

Set the Rent and a Payment Schedule

Agricultural land is usually priced per acre per year — a dollar figure multiplied by the tillable acreage — while a ground lease for a building may use a fixed annual or monthly amount. State the rent plainly and add a payment schedule that fits the use: a single annual payment, or installments timed to planting and harvest. Spell out late fees and how taxes and assessments are shared.

Permitted Use, Conservation, and Reversion

• Permitted use — exactly what the land may be used for (row crops, grazing, a specific structure) and what is prohibited.
• Conservation and soil care — good-husbandry duties, weed and erosion control, and no waste or contamination of the land.
• Improvements and reversion — who may build or install fencing, irrigation, or structures, who owns them during the term, and whether they are removed or revert to the owner at the end.
• Access and utilities — easements, road access, and responsibility for water, power, and fencing.
• Surrender — returning the land in good condition (for cropland, in good tilth) when the lease ends.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Describing the land loosely, so the leased area or acreage is disputed later.
• Leaving out who owns improvements at the end of the term.
• Skipping conservation and soil-care duties on agricultural land.
• Being silent on property taxes, access, and insurance.

Get Counsel Review Before Signing

EZdoc drafts a clean, professionally formatted land lease in seconds — a strong starting point. Because land leases touch zoning, taxes, and multi-year obligations, have a local attorney review the terms for your county and state before either party signs.

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