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Bee Ag Exemption in Hill County, TX

To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Hill County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 1.5 acres (about 16 hives at 20 acres), kept on the property year-round. Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Form 50-129 with Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD) by April 30.

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Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees

Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties. Updated July 2026

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What does Hill County require for a bee ag exemption?

Hill County's intensity standard: 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 1.5 acres (about 16 hives at 20 acres). Hill CAD requires hives on the property for the full calendar year, registration of the apiary with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, and conducts 1–2 compliance inspections per year. Requirements are set by the Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD) and can change — we verify the current standard before every installation, and our hive plans are built to meet it exactly.

✓ Verified directly with Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD) — July 11, 2026.

We re-confirm every county's standard each season

2,000+

hives we manage across 40+ Texas counties

250+

Texas properties under our care

What would your land need — and save?

How honey bees qualify your land

The land qualifies — not you. Texas Property TaxCode §23.51 recognizes beekeeping as agricultural use. You don't have to become a beekeeper; you hire one. We own and manage the colonies on your property, and your land still qualifies.

Instead of taxing your land at market value, the county taxes its agricultural productivity value— commonly cutting the taxable value of qualifying land by 90% or more.

  • Acreage: 5–20 acres of open land. A homestead typically carves out about an acre, so plan on 6–21 total if your house is on the tract.

  • History: qualifying use for 5 of the past 7 years — savings usually start in Year 6. Already have an ag valuation from cattle or hay? Switch to bees immediately and keep it. No waiting.

How to get started

  1. Contact us for a Free assessment on your property

  2. We design a hive plan that meets your county's standard for your acreage.

  3. We place and manage the bees, and provide your documentation.

4. File Form 50-129 with Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD) by April 30. We give you everything you need.

Late applications accepted until the appraisal roll is certified (typically mid-July) with a 10% penalty on the tax savings.

Why landowners choose Timber Creek Bees

Full Service Program

Completely hands-off for you — we provide the bees, place the hives, maintain them all season, replace any dead-outs, and hand you a detailed packet to submit at the end of the year.

Loss Protection

We replace losses at no extra cost — if a colony fails, we make it right, so your hive count and your valuation stay protected.

2,000+ Hives Managed

Local and experienced — based in Greenville, caring for over 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas counties in the Dallas, Austin, and Houston regions.

Filing Assistance

We walk you through the filing process, provide everything your county asks for, and stand behind you if a denial ever needs to be protested.

Appraisal District Compliance

We keep you compliant — proper hive counts, healthy colonies, and the documentation your appraisal district wants to see.

Hundreds of Properties Qualified Yearly

We've been at this a while. We know the counties, we know what they want, and we'll guide you through the whole process from first hive to approved valuation.

“We love this bee business! Picked up 3 more nucs today. They’re always super helpful.” — Julia Jordan

Your appraisal district

Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD)

Phone:

(254) 582-2508

Email:

hcad@hillcad.org

Address:

1407 Abbott Ave., Hillsboro, TX 76645-2872

Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Hill County recaptures 3 years of tax savings plus 5% annual interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Hill County?

Hill County's standard (verified directly with the county appraisal district, July 2026): 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 1.5 acres (about 16 hives at 20 acres). Standards can change, so confirm with Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD) at (254) 582-2508 — or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.

How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Hill County?

Texas Tax Code limits beekeeping ag valuation to 5-20 acres of qualified open-space land. If your home sits on the tract, most districts carve out about 1 acre for the homestead, so plan on at least 6 total acres.

How long do the bees have to stay on my Hill County property?

Hill County requires hives on the property for the full calendar year — one of the few counties with a year-round rule — and conducts periodic compliance inspections. Our resident, documented placements are built for exactly this.

When is the deadline to apply?

File Form 50-129 with Hill County Appraisal District (Hill CAD) by April 30. Late applications are generally accepted until the appraisal roll is certified (typically mid-July) with a 10% penalty on the tax savings.

Do I have to keep the bees myself?

No. The land qualifies - not the landowner. You can hire a professional service to place, manage, and document the hives. That turnkey management is exactly what Timber Creek Bees does for Hill County landowners.

What happens if I stop the agricultural use?

If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Hill County can recapture 3 years of tax savings plus 5% annual interest - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.

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