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

Quick answer: Wise County landowners with 5 to 20 acres can qualify for agricultural (1-d-1) valuation with managed honeybee colonies. Wise County Appraisal District requires 6 hives on the first 5 acres plus 1 additional hive for every 2.5 acres, up to 12 hives on 20 acres, kept on the property at least 7 months of the year. Qualifying land is valued at the rate for its current land category. Land must show agricultural use for 5 of the previous 7 years. File Form 50-129 with Wise CAD in Decatur between January 1 and April 30.

Does Wise 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 Wise County Appraisal District (Wise CAD, Decatur) follows the most common Texas intensity standard for it. Ten Box Bees places and manages hives for landowners around Decatur, Bridgeport, Rhome, Boyd, Springtown, Alvord, Paradise and Newark.

How many hives does Wise County require?

Hives must be live, managed colonies on the property for a minimum of 7 months each year. Empty equipment does not count. Wise CAD may inspect.

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 Wise County land has no history, hives placed in year one qualify the land in year six. If the land is already under ag valuation for cattle, hay, or horses, switching to bees keeps the history intact as long as there is no gap in use. This is common on Wise County tracts that have been split off larger ranches into 10 to 20 acre pieces.

What does it save?

Qualifying acreage is taxed on productivity value instead of market value. With Wise County land values climbing along the Highway 287 and 114 corridors, the gap is significant on most 10 to 20 acre tracts. 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 Wise County?

Ten Box Bees leases fully managed hives at $385 per hive per year plus a one-time $200 setup fee. Under Wise's table that is $2,310 per year for 5 acres (6 hives) up to $4,620 for 20 acres (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 Wise CAD.

How to apply with Wise CAD

1. Confirm acreage. Pull your Wise CAD record at wise-cad.com 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 Wise County Appraisal District, 400 E. Business 380, Decatur, TX 76234. 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. Wise 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 Wise County mistakes

• Counting the house acre toward the 5-acre minimum.
• Pulling hives off the property in winter. Wise requires 7 months on-site; Ten Box Bees keeps them year-round.
• Buying hives but not managing them: dead-outs do not count.
• Missing the April 30 deadline.
• Letting the history lapse for a year while switching from cattle to bees.

Frequently asked questions

Can I qualify 4 acres in Wise County with bees? No. Texas law sets 5 acres as the floor.

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

Can I do bees on part of my land and cattle on the rest? Yes, as long as each portion meets its own intensity standard. Bees are a good fit for the 5 to 20 wooded or rocky acres that will not carry cattle.

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 Wise 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 Wise County Appraisal District beekeeping guidelines for the 2027 tax year and is not tax or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with Wise CAD at wise-cad.com or 940-627-3081.