top of page

Bee Ag Exemption in Hood County, TX

To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Hood County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres (about 12 hives at 20 acres), kept on site at least 7 months of the year. Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Form 50-129 with Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood CAD) by April 30.

20260617_173605~2.JPG

Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees

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

1979a03c-3cdd-4d5f-8dfd-4499bc99cd36.JPG

What does Hood County require for a bee ag exemption?

Hood County's intensity standard: 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres (about 12 hives at 20 acres). Requirements are set by the Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood 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 Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood CAD) — July 27, 2026.

We re-confirm every county's standard each season

27

hives we manage in Hood County

3

Hood County 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 Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood 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

Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood CAD)

Phone:

(817) 573-2471

Email:

hoodapp@hoodcad.net

Address:

1902 W. Pearl St., Granbury, TX 76048-1873

Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Hood County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Hood 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 2.5 acres (about 12 hives at 20 acres). Standards can change, so confirm with Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood CAD) at (817) 573-2471 - or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.

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

Hood County requires colonies on site at least 7 months of the year. We place and manage your hives to that standard and a minimum of seven months out of the year, and we document every visit — so there's a dated record if the district asks for one.

When is the deadline to apply?

File Form 50-129 with Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood 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 Hood County landowners.

What happens if I stop the agricultural use?

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

What does Hood County want with the application?

Hood CAD asks for purchase documentation for the bees and equipment, evidence of available food sources, a hive-placement map and a basic marketing plan, and it runs annual inspections. Hives must be alive and active on the property at least 7 months of the year.

Do you service Granbury, Tolar and the rest of Hood County?

Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Hood County — Granbury, Tolar, Lipan, Cresson, DeCordova, Pecan Plantation, Oak Trail Shores, Acton, Canyon Creek and Paluxy. Your application is filed with Hood Central Appraisal District (Hood 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 Hood County is inside our regular service area.

bottom of page