How to Get a Beekeeping Exemption on Small Acreage in Texas

Why Beekeeping Is the Small Landowner's Best Path

If you own 5 to 20 acres in Texas and you're paying full property taxes, you're likely leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year. Beekeeping is the most accessible agricultural exemption for small acreage owners — and it's not even close.

Traditional agricultural exemptions require significant land and operations. You need dozens of acres for cattle, extensive equipment for crop production, or managed forests for timber. But beekeeping? A handful of hive boxes on a few acres can qualify you for the same 1-d-1 agricultural valuation as a 1,000-acre cattle ranch.

For properties near growing metro areas — where market values have skyrocketed but the land is too small for traditional farming — beekeeping is often the only realistic path to agricultural valuation. And the tax savings can be dramatic: $2,000 to $6,000 per year or more on small parcels near Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston.

Minimum Requirements by County

There is no statewide standard for beekeeping exemptions. Each county appraisal district sets its own minimum acreage and hive count requirements. However, the most common formula is:

• 5 acres minimum (some counties require 10 or 20)
• 6 hives on the first 5 qualifying acres
• 1 additional hive per 2.5 additional acres

Here's what this looks like in practice:

Critical warning: These are common guidelines. Your county may require more or fewer hives, different acreage minimums, or additional documentation. Always verify your county's specific requirements before investing. At Exemption.Land, we maintain current beekeeping requirements for every Texas county and will tell you the exact numbers before you spend a dollar on equipment.

Setting Up Your Beekeeping Operation

Step 1: Verify Your County Requirements

Before buying a single hive, confirm your county accepts beekeeping as qualifying agricultural use and verify the minimum hive count for your acreage. We can handle this research for you — it's part of our free assessment.

Step 2: Source Your Hives

You have two main options for starting your hive colonies:

• Nucleus colonies (nucs) — Small starter colonies with a laying queen, worker bees, brood, and honey. Available from local beekeeping suppliers, typically $150-$250 each. Best for spring installation (March-May).
• Package bees — A queen plus 3 pounds of worker bees, typically $120-$180. Requires more management initially but is more widely available.

You'll also need hive bodies (boxes), frames, a smoker, hive tool, protective gear, and a stand for each hive. Complete beginner kits (hive + tools) run $150-$300 per hive.

Step 3: Choose Your Hive Location

Hive placement matters — both for bee health and for your exemption. Place hives where they get morning sun, protection from prevailing winds, and easy access to water. Avoid low areas where moisture collects.

Our soil and vegetation mapping data helps identify the optimal hive placement on your property. We analyze sun exposure, wind patterns, proximity to forage sources, and terrain to recommend locations that maximize colony health.

Step 4: Register with TAIS

Texas requires all beekeepers to register with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS). Registration is free and can be completed online. TAIS may inspect your hives — think of this as your agricultural operation having a stamp of legitimacy.

Step 5: File Your Application

Once your hives are established and registered, file Form 50-129 with your county appraisal district listing beekeeping as your agricultural use. Include photos of your hives, your TAIS registration number, and any production records you have.

The Financial Case for Beekeeping

Let's look at real numbers for a 10-acre property near Austin with a market value of $300,000:

• Property tax at market value: ~$6,300/year (at an effective rate of ~2.1%)
• Property tax at ag value: ~$150/year (ag productivity value ~$7,000)
• Annual savings: ~$6,150
• Beekeeping setup cost: ~$2,500 (one-time, for 8 hives)
• Annual maintenance: ~$300-$500
• Break-even: Less than 6 months

The math is overwhelmingly in your favor. A $2,500 investment saves you $6,000+ every year, for as long as you maintain your hives. Over 10 years, that's $60,000 in savings from a modest beekeeping operation.

Maintaining Your Exemption

Getting the exemption is the first step. Keeping it requires ongoing attention:

• Keep hives active — Empty boxes don't count. Your colonies need to have live bees, a laying queen, and evidence of management
• Replace lost colonies — Colony loss happens (winter losses, pests, disease). Replace colonies promptly to maintain your hive count
• Document production — Track honey harvests, wax production, or pollination services. Even modest production demonstrates agricultural intent
• Maintain TAIS registration — Keep your state registration current
• File annual renewals — Some counties require annual reporting or reapplication

Our platform tracks all of these requirements and alerts you when action is needed. We monitor your county's inspection schedule, track your hive counts, and ensure your documentation stays current.

Let Us Handle the Details

Beekeeping exemptions should be simple, but county requirements make them tricky. At Exemption.Land, we've helped dozens of small-acreage landowners get their beekeeping exemptions approved on the first try. We know which counties have quirks, which inspectors ask tough questions, and how to present your operation in the best possible light.

Start with our free assessment. We'll tell you exactly what your county requires, how much you'll save, and what it will cost to get started. Two minutes could save you thousands.