Bee Ag Exemption in Lamar County, TX
To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Lamar 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). Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Form 50-129 with Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar CAD) by April 30.
Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees
Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties.
What does Lamar County require for a bee ag exemption?
Lamar 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). Hives must be active and maintained. We keep your hives on the property to Lamar County's compliance standard and a minimum of seven months out of the year, and we document every visit with dates. If Lamar CAD ever asks you to show the colonies were maintained, that record is what answers it. Requirements are set by the Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar 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 Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar CAD) — July 23, 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 Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar 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.
"This is a great company. We host their bees and get an ag exemption. They come out and do all the work.....they are friendly, polite, and courteous. We love doing business with them." — Mary Petrichenko, Google review
Your appraisal district
Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar CAD)
Phone:
(903) 785-7822
Email:
Address:
521 Bonham St., Paris, TX 75460-4191
Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Lamar County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Lamar County?
Lamar 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 Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar CAD) at (903) 785-7822 — or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.
How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Lamar 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 Lamar County property?
We keep your hives on the property to Lamar County's compliance standard and a minimum of seven months out of the year, and we document every visit with dates. If Lamar CAD ever asks you to show the colonies were maintained, that record is what answers it.
When is the deadline to apply?
File Form 50-129 with Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar 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 Lamar County landowners.
What happens if I stop the agricultural use?
If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Lamar County can recapture 3 years of tax savings - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.
What proof does Lamar County want from a new beekeeping applicant?
Lamar CAD told us on July 23, 2026 that new applicants provide either a lease agreement or hive purchase receipts as proof of use — and no other paperwork. Worth noting: the county's Ag Advisory Board meets each fall, so the standard is worth re-checking after that meeting.
Do you service Paris, Reno and the rest of Lamar County?
Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Lamar County — Paris, Reno, Blossom, Roxton, Deport, Toco, Sun Valley, Powderly, Brookston, Chicota, Pattonville, Petty, Sumner and Arthur City. Your application is filed with Lamar County Appraisal District (Lamar 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 Lamar County is inside our regular service area.