Bee Ag Exemption in Anderson County, TX
To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Anderson County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 6 active hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 more for each additional 2.5 acres (12 hives at 20 acres). Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Form 50-129, with supporting documentation, with Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson CAD) by April 30.
Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees
Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties.
What does Anderson County require for a bee ag exemption?
Anderson County's intensity standard: 6 active hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres — 7 hives at 7.5 acres, 8 at 10, 9 at 12.5, 10 at 15, 11 at 17.5, and 12 at 20. Anderson CAD requires supporting documentation with the application — an application filed without it is returned as incomplete — and the property must pass an aerial or on-site field inspection by district staff. Requirements are set by the Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson 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 Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson CAD) — August 4, 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.
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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.
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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
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Contact us for a Free assessment on your property
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We design a hive plan that meets your county's standard for your acreage.
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We place and manage the bees, and provide your documentation.
4. File Form 50-129 — with supporting documentation — with Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson 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.
"Timber Creek Bees has also been an invaluable resource in helping me navigate Texas agricultural valuation requirements for beekeeping. Their expertise… saved me countless hours." — Aaron Bennis, Google review
Your appraisal district
Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson CAD)
Phone:
(903) 723-2949
Email:
Address:
801 N. Perry St., Palestine, TX 75801-2547
Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Anderson County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Anderson County?
Anderson County's standard (verified directly with the county appraisal district, August 2026): 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres (about 12 hives at 20 acres). Standards can change, so confirm with Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson CAD) at (903) 723-2949 - or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.
How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Anderson 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 Anderson County property?
We keep your hives on the property to Anderson County's compliance standard and a minimum of seven months out of the year, and we document every visit with dates. If Anderson CAD ever asks you to show the colonies were maintained, that record is what answers it. Anderson CAD's 2026 standards require the colonies to be active, which is what our maintenance schedule is built around.
When is the deadline to apply?
File Form 50-129 with Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson 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 Anderson County landowners.
What happens if I stop the agricultural use?
If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Anderson County can recapture 3 years of tax savings - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.
Does Anderson County inspect the property?
Yes. Anderson CAD passes qualifying properties through an aerial or on-site field inspection, and its 2026 Standards require supportive documentation with the application — incomplete applications are returned. Normal renewal runs on a 10-year cycle, though the chief appraiser can request a new application at any time.
Do you service Palestine, Elkhart and the rest of Anderson County?
Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Anderson County — Palestine, Elkhart, Frankston, Cayuga, Neches, Montalba, Tennessee Colony and Slocum. Your application is filed with Anderson County Appraisal District (Anderson CAD) wherever in the county your tract sits, and we handle the hive placement, the management and the records the same way across all of it. We are based in Greenville, Texas, and Anderson County is inside our regular service area.
Nearby counties we serve
Also serving nearby: Henderson County, Smith County, Navarro County.
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