Beekeeping for Agricultural Valuation in Texas: Save on Property Taxes

What Is Agricultural Valuation?

Agricultural Valuation (formally called a 1-d-1 Open Space Special Valuation) allows your land to be taxed based on its agricultural use rather than its full market value. This can translate to thousands of dollars in property tax savings every year.

Beekeeping is one of the approved agricultural uses under this valuation. Whether you keep bees yourself or hire a beekeeper, qualifying your land for Agricultural Valuation can make a significant difference in annual property taxes.

Who Qualifies?

To qualify for Agricultural Valuation under Texas law:

Size: Land must be 5 to 20 acres. Many counties subtract 1 acre for a home or buildings, so you may need at least 6 acres.
Use: The land must be actively used for agriculture—raising honey bees counts.
History: The land must be used for agriculture for five of the past seven years. If you’re starting fresh, you build that history over five consecutive years, and the valuation takes effect in Year 6 once approved.

If you already have Agricultural Valuation for hay or livestock, you can transition to bees and keep your valuation as long as agricultural use continues. Once approved, the land must stay in qualifying agricultural use to avoid rollback taxes.

How Many Hives Are Required (and What This Means to You)

Hive requirements—called “intensity requirements”—are set by each county appraisal district and can vary. Always confirm with your local county, but here are examples from Central Texas counties where we manage apiaries:

Hays County: 6 hives for the first 5 acres, plus 1 additional hive for every 1.5 acres beyond that
Travis County: 6 hives for the first 5 acres, plus 1 additional hive for every 2.5 acres
Williamson County: 6 hives for the first 5 acres, plus 1 additional hive for every 2.5 acres
Burnet County: 6 hives for the first 5 acres, plus 1 additional hive for every 2.5 acres

We help you confirm your county’s requirements and plan your apiary so it meets intensity standards by the end of Year 5—ready for inspection and approval in Year 6. Whether you’re starting fresh or switching from another agricultural use, we handle the setup, management, and recordkeeping so your property stays in compliance.

What Kind of Tax Savings Can You Expect?

The savings depend on:

Your county’s productivity (agricultural) valuation
Your property’s market value
The number of acres that qualify

The higher your property’s market value, the greater the difference between market and ag valuation—and the bigger the tax savings. Many landowners save thousands of dollars per year once approved.

Do You Have to Be a Beekeeper?

No. The valuation applies to the land, not the person. But managing bee colonies successfully requires skill and close attention, because entire colonies can fail for many reasons:

Disease and pests such as varroa mites or viruses
Starvation caused by summer dearths, droughts, or overharvesting honey
Queen failure when the queen dies, stops laying, or produces weak brood
Swarming when the colony reproduces by splitting; if not managed, the original hive may be left too weak to recover
Absconding when the entire colony abandons the hive due to stress, pests, or poor conditions

Replacing lost colonies can be expensive and time-consuming, which is why many landowners choose turn-key management.

Turn-Key Bee Leases

We handle everything so you can enjoy the tax savings without becoming a beekeeper yourself.

Already Have Agricultural Valuation?

If your land is already approved for Agricultural Valuation (hay, livestock, etc.), you can switch to bees and keep your valuation active.

✓ We set up your apiary
✓ We order and install bees
✓ We manage all beekeeping tasks and provide supplies
✓ Lost colonies are replaced at no cost to you
✓ We keep detailed records for county requirements
✓ We help you update your paperwork with the appraisal district

Starting Fresh (No Current Agricultural Valuation)

If you’re beginning the 5-year history requirement, we can manage the entire process for you.

✓ We begin building your 5-year agricultural history
✓ We can gradually build your apiary so it meets intensity requirements by the end of Year 5—ready for inspection and approval in Year 6
✓ We handle all beekeeping tasks and provide supplies
✓ Lost colonies are replaced at no cost to you
✓ We keep detailed records and help you submit your application when eligible

Why Choose Us?

✓ We provide the bees and manage them year-round
✓ Lost colonies are replaced at no cost to you
✓ Detailed, county-ready records are included
✓ We assist with all paperwork and application steps
✓ No beekeeping experience required—just enjoy the tax savings

Contact Tactical Honey

Schedule a Consult Today!