Bee Ag Exemption in Rains County, TX
To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Rains County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 8 mainframe hives at 20 acres, with the requirement for smaller tracts set case-by-case with the district. Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Form 50-129 with Rains County Appraisal District (Rains CAD) by April 30.
Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees
Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties.
What does Rains County require for a bee ag exemption?
Rains County's intensity standard: bees may qualify on a minimum of 5 acres, with 8 mainframe hives at 20 acres. Rains CAD sets the requirement for smaller tracts case-by-case with each landowner. We confirm that standard with the district and document it as part of your hive plan, and our plans are built to meet it exactly.
✓ Verified directly with Rains County Appraisal District (Rains CAD) — July 30, 2026.
We re-confirm every county's standard each season
48
hives we manage in Rains County
8
Rains 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.
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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 Rains County Appraisal District (Rains 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
Rains County Appraisal District (Rains CAD)
Phone:
(903) 473-2391
Email:
Address:
145 Doris Briggs Pkwy., Emory, TX 75440
Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Rains County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Rains County?
Rains CAD's Guidelines for Bee Keeping Appraisal set 8 mainframe hives at 20 acres, but state no count at the 5-acre minimum — so for smaller tracts the district sets intensity case-by-case. We confirm your figure with the district and document it as part of the hive plan, or you can call Rains CAD at (903) 473-2391.
How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Rains 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 Rains County property?
Rains 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 Rains County Appraisal District (Rains 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 Rains County landowners.
What happens if I stop the agricultural use?
If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Rains County can recapture 3 years of tax savings - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.
Why doesn't Rains County publish a hive count for 5 acres?
Because its guidelines don't state one. Rains CAD's Guidelines for Bee Keeping Appraisal — emailed to us on July 29, 2026 and not posted on its website — states 8 mainframe hives at 20 acres but gives no figure at the 5-acre minimum, so the district confirms the number case by case. Each parcel is evaluated on its own merits, and the owner must show intent to produce income.
Do you service Emory, Point and the rest of Rains County?
Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Rains County — Emory, Point, East Tawakoni, Alba, Hogansville, Hooker Ridge, Dougherty and Hermit's Cove. Your application is filed with Rains County Appraisal District (Rains 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 Rains County is inside our regular service area.
Nearby counties we serve
Also serving nearby: Hunt County, Hopkins County, Wood County, Van Zandt County.
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