Transfer of Development Rights

Transfer of a Development Rights (TDR) is a growth-management strategy that establishes a market for the exchange of development rights between property owners. Property owners in a growth-restricted area are issued credits in compensation for any loss in development rights. These credits can be sold to property owners in specifically designated receiving areas, where they can be used to develop at higher densities than regulations would otherwise allow. The goal of a TDR strategy is to maintain fairness between landowners, while allowing a governing authority to manage land use.

Albemarle County study

On October 3, 2006, Albemarle County Supervisor David Slutzky launched what he describes as a new rural area protection initiative for the county based on the Transfer of Development Rights