North Texas County Agriculture Valuation Info

While state law codifies that acreages of 5-20 acres of open space can qualify for ag valuation with Honeybees, there are some caveats that give each county discretion to adjust other factors.

All: 

Qualifying Acres are 5-acres to 20 acres.   

Texas Tax Code: Subsection D states:

The term ( Agricultural Use) also includes the use of land to raise or keep bees for pollination or for the production of human food or other tangible products having a commercial value, provided that the land used is not less than 5 or more than 20 acres.

We HIGHLY recommend that each qualifying plot of land using bees for ag valuation – have some sort of food plot that can be documented to satisfy the above requirement.   Photos of food plots, gardens, fruiting trees and plants, etc. will help your appraisal district documentation.   Use this as additional documentation – as North Texas may or may not have a honey harvest – depending on available forage for the bees.

Be sure to check at least annually to see if your county appraisal district has changed any requirements

Collin County

• Collin CAD
• 5 Acres = 6 Hives.  For each full 2.5 acres over 5, add 1 hive (12 hives total for 20 acres)
• Annual Beekeeping Questionnaire Required to Appraisal District
• Time:  Unlisted by appraisal district – presumed 12 months

Dallas County

• Dallas County Appraisal District
• Beekeeping qualifying References are highly unmentioned as of early 2025 website
• 5 Acres = 6 Hives.  For each full 2.5 acres over 5, add 1 hive (12 hives total for 20 acres)
• If bees are off property for a time that disqualifies ag – in a city limit – all ag 5-year history must be re-started.   Outside of a city limit, 5 of the last 7 years of documented history qualifies
• Time:  Unlisted by appraisal district – presumed 12 months

Denton County

• Denton County Appraisal District
• 5 Acres = 6 Hives.  For each full 2.5 acres over 5, add 1 hive (12 hives total for 20 acres)
• Annual Beekeeping Questionnaire Required to Appraisal District
• Time:  Minimum of 7 months of the year

Hunt County

• Hunt County Appraisal District
• 5 Acres to 12 Acres = 6 Hives.  For each full 2 acres over 12, add 1 hive (10 hives total for 20 acres)
• Time:  Minimum of 7 months of the year

Kaufman County

• Kaufman County Appraisal District
• 5 Acres = 6 Hives.  For each full 2.5 acres over 5, add 1 hive (12 hives total for 20 acres)
• Time:  Minimum of 7 months of the year

Rockwall County

• Rockwall County Appraisal District
• 5 Acres = 6 Hives.  For each full 2.5 acres over 5, add 1 hive (12 hives total for 20 acres)
• Landowner MUST be the owner of the honeybee livestock and equipment
• Time:  FULL 12 months of the year
• TAIS Beekeeper listing documentation required (I maintain the listing for my clients – as TAIS charges $35/year for registering a beekeeper).   A screenshot of the listing is provided to my clients.

Sources:

Texas Agriculture Code

Texas Tax Code