diff --git a/bld/CLMBuildNamelist.pm b/bld/CLMBuildNamelist.pm
index d433ba8698..5e2494687a 100755
--- a/bld/CLMBuildNamelist.pm
+++ b/bld/CLMBuildNamelist.pm
@@ -823,8 +823,7 @@ sub setup_cmdl_fates_mode {
                       "use_fates_daylength_factor", "fates_photosynth_acclimation", "fates_stomatal_model",
                       "fates_stomatal_assimilation", "fates_leafresp_model", "fates_cstarvation_model",
                       "fates_regeneration_model", "fates_hydro_solver", "fates_radiation_model", "fates_electron_transport_model",
-		      "use_fates_managed_fire"
-                   );
+		      "use_fates_managed_fire", "fates_lu_transition_logic");
 
        # dis-allow fates specific namelist items with non-fates runs
        foreach my $var ( @list ) {
@@ -4886,7 +4885,7 @@ sub setup_logic_fates {
                        "use_fates_daylength_factor", "fates_photosynth_acclimation", "fates_stomatal_model",
                        "fates_stomatal_assimilation", "fates_leafresp_model", "fates_cstarvation_model",
                        "fates_regeneration_model", "fates_hydro_solver", "fates_radiation_model", "fates_electron_transport_model",
-		       "use_fates_managed_fire"
+		                  "use_fates_managed_fire","fates_lu_transition_logic"
                     );
 
         foreach my $var ( @list ) {
@@ -4899,6 +4898,7 @@ sub setup_logic_fates {
         add_default($opts, $nl_flags->{'inputdata_rootdir'}, $definition, $defaults, $nl, 'use_fates_luh', 'use_fates'=>$nl_flags->{'use_fates'},
                     'use_fates_lupft'=>$nl->get_value('use_fates_lupft'),
                     'use_fates_potentialveg'=>$nl->get_value('use_fates_potentialveg'),
+		              'fates_lu_transition_logic'=>$nl->get_value('fates_lu_transition_logic'),
                     'fates_harvest_mode'=>remove_leading_and_trailing_quotes($nl->get_value('fates_harvest_mode')) );
         add_default($opts, $nl_flags->{'inputdata_rootdir'}, $definition, $defaults, $nl, 'use_fates_nocomp', 'use_fates'=>$nl_flags->{'use_fates'},
                     'use_fates_lupft'=>$nl->get_value('use_fates_lupft'),
@@ -4975,6 +4975,7 @@ sub setup_logic_fates {
         # check that fates landuse change mode has the necessary luh2 landuse timeseries data
         # and add the default if not defined.  Do not add default if use_fates_potentialveg is true.
         # If fixed biogeography is on, make sure that flandusepftdat is avilable.
+        # Check that fates landuse mode is on when the transitional logic is set to greater than zero
         my $var = "use_fates_luh";
         if ( defined($nl->get_value($var))  ) {
            if ( &value_is_true($nl->get_value($var)) ) {
@@ -5002,6 +5003,15 @@ sub setup_logic_fates {
                     }
                  }
               }
+              $var = "fates_lu_transition_logic";
+              if ( defined($nl->get_value($var))  ) {
+                 if ( $nl->get_value($var) < 1 || $nl->get_value($var) > 9) {
+                    $log->fatal_error("$var must be set to between 1 and 9" );
+                    }
+                 }
+              else {
+                  $log->fatal_error("$var must be set when use_fates_luh is true" );
+                 }
            }
         }
         # check that fates landuse is on and harvest mode is off when potential veg switch is true
diff --git a/bld/namelist_files/namelist_defaults_ctsm.xml b/bld/namelist_files/namelist_defaults_ctsm.xml
index 289d24fb49..2e2e4a7ee6 100644
--- a/bld/namelist_files/namelist_defaults_ctsm.xml
+++ b/bld/namelist_files/namelist_defaults_ctsm.xml
@@ -2655,6 +2655,8 @@ lnd/clm2/surfdata_esmf/NEON/ctsm5.4.0/surfdata_1x1_NEON_TOOL_hist_2000_78pfts_c2
 <fates_spitfire_mode            use_fates=".true.">0</fates_spitfire_mode>
 <fates_spitfire_mode            use_fates=".true." use_fates_managed_fire=".true." >1</fates_spitfire_mode>
 <fates_harvest_mode             use_fates=".true.">no_harvest</fates_harvest_mode>
+<fates_lu_transition_logic      use_fates=".true.">4</fates_lu_transition_logic> <!--Default value of 4 means vegetation
+ is not cleared during land use change transitions to rangeland, but is cleared in transitions to pasture and croplands -->
 <fates_stomatal_model           use_fates=".true.">ballberry1987</fates_stomatal_model>
 <fates_stomatal_assimilation    use_fates=".true.">net</fates_stomatal_assimilation>
 <fates_leafresp_model           use_fates=".true.">ryan1991</fates_leafresp_model>
@@ -2678,6 +2680,7 @@ lnd/clm2/surfdata_esmf/NEON/ctsm5.4.0/surfdata_1x1_NEON_TOOL_hist_2000_78pfts_c2
 <use_fates_luh                  use_fates=".true." use_fates_lupft=".true.">.true.</use_fates_luh>
 <use_fates_luh                  use_fates=".true." use_fates_potentialveg=".true.">.true.</use_fates_luh>
 <use_fates_luh                  use_fates=".true."                                >.false.</use_fates_luh>
+<fates_lu_transition_logic      use_fates=".true." use_fates_luh=".true." >4</fates_lu_transition_logic>
 <fates_parteh_mode              use_fates=".true.">1</fates_parteh_mode>
 <fates_seeddisp_cadence         use_fates=".true.">0</fates_seeddisp_cadence>
 <use_fates_nocomp               use_fates=".true." use_fates_sp=".true."   >.true.</use_fates_nocomp>
diff --git a/bld/namelist_files/namelist_definition_ctsm.xml b/bld/namelist_files/namelist_definition_ctsm.xml
index 11c232615c..2ef728309b 100644
--- a/bld/namelist_files/namelist_definition_ctsm.xml
+++ b/bld/namelist_files/namelist_definition_ctsm.xml
@@ -939,6 +939,13 @@ which processes the raw land use data from the THEMIS tool data sets
 (https://doi.org/10.5065/29s7-7b41)
 </entry>
 
+<entry id="fates_lu_transition_logic" type="integer" category="physics"
+        group="clm_inparm" valid_values="1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9">
+Select the logic for land use class transitions.
+Allowed values are 1-9. See the FATES user guide for an explanation of the options.
+(Only relevant if FATES with land use is on)
+</entry>
+
 <entry id="use_luna" type="logical" category="physics"
         group="clm_inparm" valid_values="" value=".false.">
 Toggle to turn on the LUNA model, to effect Photosynthesis by leaf Nitrogen
diff --git a/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl b/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl
index 91e0d95ca6..3cbd92cb24 100755
--- a/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl
+++ b/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl
@@ -1207,6 +1207,10 @@ sub cat_and_create_namelistinfile {
                                      namelst=>"use_fates_luh=.true., fluh_timeseries='zztop'",
                                      phys=>"clm4_5",
                                    },
+     "useFATESLUH2invalidlogic"  =>{ options=>"-bgc fates -envxml_dir . -no-megan",
+                                     namelst=>"use_fates_luh=.true., fates_lu_transition_logic=0",
+                                     phys=>"clm6_0",
+                                   },
      "useMEGANwithFATES"         =>{ options=>"-bgc fates -envxml_dir . -megan",
                                      namelst=>"",
                                      phys=>"clm4_5",
diff --git a/src/main/clm_varctl.F90 b/src/main/clm_varctl.F90
index 83133acf2b..0d1f681830 100644
--- a/src/main/clm_varctl.F90
+++ b/src/main/clm_varctl.F90
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ module clm_varctl
                                                                         ! > 1 for external data (lightning and/or anthropogenic ignitions)
                                                                         ! see bld/namelist_files/namelist_definition_clm4_5.xml for details
   logical, public            :: use_fates_managed_fire = .false.        ! true => turn on managed fire
+  integer, public            :: fates_lu_transition_logic = -9          ! controls logic around transition between land use classes 
   logical, public            :: use_fates_tree_damage = .false.         ! true => turn on tree damage module
   character(len=256), public :: fates_harvest_mode = ''                 ! five different harvest modes; see namelist definition
   character(len=256), public :: fates_stomatal_model = ''               ! stomatal conductance model, Ball-berry or Medlyn
diff --git a/src/main/controlMod.F90 b/src/main/controlMod.F90
index 082e3bb710..74b08a53a8 100644
--- a/src/main/controlMod.F90
+++ b/src/main/controlMod.F90
@@ -258,8 +258,9 @@ subroutine control_init(dtime)
           use_fates_tree_damage,                        &
           use_fates_daylength_factor,                   &
           fates_photosynth_acclimation,                 &
-          fates_history_dimlevel,                       &
-          use_fates_managed_fire
+          use_fates_managed_fire,                       &
+          fates_lu_transition_logic,                    &
+          fates_history_dimlevel
 
     ! Ozone vegetation stress method
     namelist / clm_inparm / o3_veg_stress_method
@@ -818,6 +819,7 @@ subroutine control_spmd()
     call mpi_bcast (for_testing_allow_interp_non_ciso_to_ciso, 1, MPI_LOGICAL, 0, mpicom, ier)
 
     call mpi_bcast (fates_spitfire_mode, 1, MPI_INTEGER, 0, mpicom, ier)
+    call mpi_bcast (fates_lu_transition_logic, 1, MPI_INTEGER, 0, mpicom, ier)
     call mpi_bcast (fates_harvest_mode, len(fates_harvest_mode) , MPI_CHARACTER, 0, mpicom, ier)
     call mpi_bcast (fates_stomatal_model, len(fates_stomatal_model) , MPI_CHARACTER, 0, mpicom, ier)
     call mpi_bcast (fates_stomatal_assimilation, len(fates_stomatal_assimilation) , MPI_CHARACTER, 0, mpicom, ier)
@@ -1235,6 +1237,7 @@ subroutine control_print ()
     if (use_fates) then
        write(iulog, *) '    fates_spitfire_mode = ', fates_spitfire_mode
        write(iulog, *) '    fates_harvest_mode = ', fates_harvest_mode
+       write(iulog, *) '    fates_lu_transition_logic = ', fates_lu_transition_logic
        write(iulog, *) '    fates_stomatal_model = ', fates_stomatal_model
        write(iulog, *) '    fates_stomatal_assimilation = ', fates_stomatal_assimilation
        write(iulog, *) '    fates_leafresp_model = ', fates_leafresp_model
diff --git a/src/utils/clmfates_interfaceMod.F90 b/src/utils/clmfates_interfaceMod.F90
index 19b247218e..c0374e4f9b 100644
--- a/src/utils/clmfates_interfaceMod.F90
+++ b/src/utils/clmfates_interfaceMod.F90
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ module CLMFatesInterfaceMod
    use clm_varctl        , only : use_fates_ed_st3
    use clm_varctl        , only : use_fates_ed_prescribed_phys
    use clm_varctl        , only : fates_harvest_mode
+   use clm_varctl        , only : fates_lu_transition_logic
    use clm_varctl        , only : fates_stomatal_model
    use clm_varctl        , only : fates_stomatal_assimilation
    use clm_varctl        , only : fates_leafresp_model
@@ -403,7 +404,6 @@ subroutine CLMFatesGlobals2()
        
      integer                                        :: pass_vertsoilc
      integer                                        :: pass_ch4
-     integer                                        :: pass_spitfire
      integer                                        :: pass_ed_st3
      integer                                        :: pass_num_lu_harvest_cats
      integer                                        :: pass_lu_harvest
@@ -637,6 +637,7 @@ subroutine CLMFatesGlobals2()
         end if
         call set_fates_ctrlparms('num_luh2_states',ival=pass_num_luh_states)
         call set_fates_ctrlparms('num_luh2_transitions',ival=pass_num_luh_transitions)
+        call set_fates_ctrlparms('fates_lu_transition_logic',ival=fates_lu_transition_logic)
 
         if ( use_fates_potentialveg ) then
            pass_use_potentialveg = 1