Ag Exemption with Bees in Somervell County, Texas: Hives, Acres, Cost & How to File (2027 Guide)

Quick answer: Somervell County landowners with 5 to 20 acres can qualify for agricultural (1-d-1) valuation with managed honeybee colonies. Somervell County Appraisal District's published beekeeping standard is 4 to 12 active hives scaled to acreage, kept on the property at least 7 months of the year, with qualifying land valued at the improved pasture rate. Land must show agricultural use for 5 of the previous 7 years. File Form 50-129 with Somervell CAD in Glen Rose between January 1 and April 30.

Does Somervell County allow bees for an ag exemption?

Yes. Texas Tax Code Section 23.51(2) makes beekeeping an agricultural use on tracts of 5 to 20 acres, and Somervell County Appraisal District (Somervell CAD, Glen Rose) applies it. Somervell is small, hilly, and heavy on cedar and limestone, which makes it a poor fit for cattle on small tracts and a good fit for bees. Ten Box Bees manages hives on properties around Glen Rose, Rainbow, Nemo and along the Paluxy and Brazos.

How many hives does Somervell County require?

Somervell CAD's published standard runs from 4 hives on the smallest qualifying tracts up to 12 hives on 20 acres. The district scales the count to acreage, so a 5-acre tract sits at the low end and a 20-acre tract at the top. Hives must be live, managed colonies on the property for a minimum of 7 months each year. Somervell is one of the few North Texas counties with a floor below 6, which makes it one of the least expensive counties to qualify in. Ten Box Bees confirms the exact count for your acreage with Somervell CAD before placement.

How many acres do I need?

Between 5 and 20 acres devoted to bees, after the homestead is carved out. A 6-acre tract with a house typically leaves 5 qualifying acres. Under 5 acres does not qualify under state law.

The 5-of-7-year history rule

Land must have been in agricultural use for 5 of the previous 7 years. If your land has no history, hives placed in year one qualify the land in year six. If the land already carries an ag valuation for cattle, goats, or hay, switching to bees keeps the history intact as long as there is no gap in use.

What does it save?

Qualifying acreage is taxed on productivity value instead of market value. Somervell values bee land at the improved pasture rate, which is low compared to what river and hill-country tracts near Glen Rose sell for. Most Ten Box Bees clients net $2,500 to $6,000 or more per year after paying for the hive lease.

What does a managed hive program cost in Somervell County?

Ten Box Bees leases fully managed hives at $385 per hive per year plus a one-time $200 setup fee. Under Somervell's scale that is as low as $1,540 per year for a small tract at 4 hives, up to $4,620 for 20 acres at 12 hives. That covers placement, all colony management and inspections, mite and pest control, and the placement records and annual agricultural-use documentation you need for Somervell CAD.

How to apply with Somervell CAD

1. Confirm acreage. Pull your record at somervellcad.net and subtract the homestead portion. You need 5+ acres left.
2. Get hives on the ground and managed before you file.
3. File Form 50-129 (Application for 1-d-1 Open-Space Agricultural Use Appraisal) with Somervell County Appraisal District, 112 Allen Drive, Glen Rose, TX 76043. Filing window is January 1 to April 30. Late applications are accepted until the roll is certified, with a 10% penalty.
4. Attach documentation. Hive lease agreement, placement map, colony count, and any Texas Apiary Inspection Service records.
5. Expect a site visit. Somervell CAD may inspect to confirm hives are present and active.
6. Keep records every year. Ten Box Bees supplies updated documentation annually for clients.

Common Somervell County mistakes

• Counting the house acre or river frontage toward the 5-acre minimum.
• Pulling hives off the property in winter. Somervell requires 7 months on-site; Ten Box Bees keeps them year-round.
• Buying hives but not managing them: dead-outs do not count.
• Placing hives in a cedar break with no forage or water. Somervell inspectors look for a location that can actually support a colony.
• Missing the April 30 deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Can I qualify 4 acres in Somervell County with bees? No. Texas law sets 5 acres as the floor, even though Somervell's hive count starts at 4.

Do I have to work the bees myself? No. A managed hive lease from a commercial beekeeper satisfies the requirement and Somervell CAD accepts lease documentation.

My land is mostly cedar and rock. Will bees work? Usually yes. Bees forage up to two miles, so they draw on neighboring pasture, river bottom, and roadside wildflowers even if your tract has limited bloom. We evaluate every site before placement.

Can I sell the honey? Yes, but you do not have to. Pollination alone is a qualifying agricultural use.

What if I sell? The valuation transfers if the buyer continues the ag use and reapplies. Changing the use triggers a 3-year rollback tax.

Get a free property evaluation

Ten Box Bees is a veteran-owned commercial beekeeping operation based in Burleson, managing 900+ hives across 73+ North Texas properties. We will pull your Somervell CAD record, tell you exactly how many hives your acreage needs, and give you a written quote. Call or text William at 940-597-5219 or request an evaluation online.

This article is general information about Somervell County Appraisal District beekeeping guidelines for the 2027 tax year and is not tax or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with Somervell CAD at somervellcad.net or 254-897-4094.