Feb 25, 2026

Ag Exemption in Tarrant County: What Landowners Need to Know (2026 Guide)

If you own rural property in Tarrant County, reducing your property taxes is likely a priority. The good news is that Texas offers agricultural valuation — commonly called an “ag exemption” — that can significantly lower your annual tax burden.

For many landowners near Fort Worth, honey bees are one of the most efficient ways to qualify.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Is an Ag Exemption in Tarrant County?

Tarrant County follows the Texas 1-D-1 Open Space Agricultural Valuation system.

This means your land is taxed based on its agricultural productivity value instead of its market value.

With rising land prices in the Fort Worth area, this difference can mean thousands of dollars per year in savings.

Basic Requirements for Ag Exemption in Tarrant County

To qualify, your property must:

Be devoted primarily to agricultural use
Meet county intensity standards
Show a history of agricultural use (typically 5 of the last 7 years)
Be actively managed

Traditional qualifying activities include:

Cattle operations
Hay production
Wildlife management
Beekeeping

For smaller acreage properties, livestock often isn’t practical — which is why many landowners turn to honey bees.

Minimum Acreage for Ag Exemption in Tarrant County

Acreage requirements vary depending on land use, but for honey bees in North Texas, properties commonly fall within:

5–20 acres for small tracts
Larger tracts require scaled intensity

Bees are especially attractive because they allow smaller properties to qualify without fencing, grazing rotation, or livestock maintenance.

How Many Hives Are Required in Tarrant County?

Hive density is determined by county intensity standards.

While exact requirements can vary, common guidelines include:

5–10 acres: typically around 6 hives
11–20 acres: typically 8–12 hives
Larger acreage: scaled appropriately

Colonies must be:

Active and viable
Properly maintained
Replaced if lost
Documented as agricultural use

Simply placing a few hobby hives is not enough.

Why Honey Bees Work Well in the Fort Worth Area

North Texas provides strong forage sources including:

Wildflowers
Clover
Native grasses
Mesquite
Seasonal blooms

Because bees forage up to two miles from the hive, they efficiently utilize surrounding land without requiring heavy infrastructure.

For many Tarrant County landowners, bees are the lowest-impact way to maintain agricultural valuation.

Common Mistakes That Risk Your Ag Valuation

We often see landowners lose or risk their ag exemption due to:

Not meeting required hive count
Failing to replace dead colonies
Lack of documentation
Inconsistent management
Waiting too long to establish agricultural history

Ag exemption compliance is about intensity and consistency — not just having bees present.

Professional Hive Management vs. DIY Beekeeping

Managing bees in Tarrant County comes with challenges:

Texas heat
Drought cycles
Queen shortages
Pests and hive loss

For landowners focused primarily on tax valuation — not becoming beekeepers — professional management provides stability and compliance.

At Ten Box Bees, we:

Structure hive placement based on acreage
Maintain 8–12 hive yards for operational efficiency
Replace weak or dead colonies
Provide year-round inspections
Support documentation requirements

Our goal is simple: help Fort Worth area landowners reduce property taxes while staying compliant.

Is Ag Exemption Worth It in Tarrant County?

In most cases, yes.

With land values increasing around Fort Worth, agricultural valuation often results in substantial long-term tax savings.

Over time, those savings can exceed the cost of hive management — while keeping your land productive and legally compliant.

Get Help With Ag Exemption in Tarrant County

If you own 5–20+ acres in Tarrant County and want to explore qualifying through honey bees, we can help.

We’ll review:

Your acreage
Agricultural history
County intensity requirements
Estimated hive needs

Contact Ten Box Bees today to schedule a property evaluation and see if honey bees are right for your land.