Texas Bee Ag Exemption FAQ | 2027 County Hive Requirements
Texas Bee Ag Exemption FAQ
Quick answer: Texas allows beekeeping to qualify as an agricultural use on eligible 5- to 20-acre tracts, but there is no single statewide hive-count rule. Each County Appraisal District applies its own degree-of-intensity standard. Ten Box Bees manages the colonies, inspections, replacements, and records for landowners across North Texas.
Can bees qualify land for Texas 1-d-1 agricultural appraisal?
Yes. Texas Tax Code §23.51 includes raising or keeping bees for pollination or for producing food or other tangible products of commercial value as an agricultural use. The appraisal district—not the beekeeper—makes the final decision on whether a property qualifies.
How many acres can qualify with bees?
Beekeeping agricultural use applies to qualifying land from 5 to 20 acres. A homesite or other non-agricultural area may be excluded from the acreage calculation, so a property with a residence often needs more than 5 total acres to leave 5 acres in agricultural use.
How many beehives do I need?
It depends on the county. Johnson County uses a tiered schedule: 5 hives for 5 to 10 acres, 7 for over 10 to 15 and 8 for over 15 to 20. Every other county we serve (Hill, Hood, Tarrant, Somervell, Parker, Wise and Montague) uses 6 hives on the first 5 acres plus 1 hive for each full additional 2.5 acres, up to 12 hives at 20 acres. We verify the current county standard before every installation.
What is the 5-of-7-year agricultural history rule?
For most open-space applications, the land must have been devoted principally to agricultural use for at least five of the preceding seven years. If the land already has agricultural valuation and the owner changes from cattle or hay to bees, the history may continue if the agricultural use remains qualifying. The appraisal district decides whether the history is sufficient.
Do I have to own the bees?
No. A landowner can lease managed colonies from a beekeeper. Ten Box Bees retains ownership and manages the hives while the landowner maintains the agricultural use on the property.
Do I have to become a beekeeper?
No. Our managed program is designed for landowners who do not want to inspect, feed, treat, requeen, replace, or maintain colonies themselves. We handle the beekeeping and provide service records.
What does the Ten Box Bees lease include?
The managed program includes hive placement, routine inspections, feeding when needed, mite and pest management, queen and colony management, normal dead-out replacement support, and documentation of our service visits. Standard pricing is $385 per hive per year plus a one-time setup fee for new properties.
How long do the hives stay on the property?
County standards vary. Some districts specify a minimum number of months; others expect active agricultural use throughout the year. We plan each placement around the applicable county standard and keep service records showing colony activity.
Does Ten Box Bees guarantee an agricultural appraisal?
No. We provide managed beekeeping and supporting documentation. The chief appraiser makes the final decision regarding acreage, agricultural history, intensity, documentation, and qualification.
Can I buy nucs instead of leasing bees?
Yes. We sell seasonal five-frame nucs and queen bees for customers who want to own and manage their own colonies. Purchased bees are separate from our fully managed landowner leasing program.
Which North Texas counties do you serve?
Our regular routes serve Johnson, Tarrant, Parker, Hood, Hill, Somervell, Wise, and Montague Counties.
What should I send for a free property evaluation?
Send the property address or parcel location, total acreage, approximate homesite acreage, current or prior agricultural use, and any correspondence you already have from the appraisal district. We will review the property and tell you the next steps.
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This page is general educational information, not tax or legal advice. County standards can change; confirm current requirements with the applicable appraisal district.
