Bee Ag Exemption in Smith County, TX
To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Smith County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 6 colonies on the first 5 acres plus 1 per additional 2.5 acres (about 12 at 20 acres), actively managed at least 7 months of the year. Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Smith CAD's own 1-d-1 application by April 30.
Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees
Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties.
What does Smith County require for a bee ag exemption?
Smith County's intensity standard: 6 colonies on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres (about 12 hives at 20 acres), actively managed on the property at least 7 months of the calendar year. Smith CAD uses its own 1-d-1 application rather than the statewide Form 50-129, and accepts TAIS permits, honey-production financials, or leases as history documentation. Requirements are set by the Smith County Appraisal District (Smith 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 Smith County Appraisal District (Smith 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 Smith CAD's own 1-d-1 application with Smith County Appraisal District (Smith 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 are very happy with their services and would recommend them to anyone wanting a no hassle way to Ag Exempt status." — Paul Lemmons, Google review
Your appraisal district
Smith County Appraisal District (Smith CAD)
Phone:
(903) 510-8600
Email:
Address:
245 SSE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75702
Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Smith County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Smith County?
Smith 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 Smith County Appraisal District (Smith CAD) at (903) 510-8600 - or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.
How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Smith 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 Smith County property?
Smith 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 Smith County Appraisal District (Smith 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 Smith County landowners.
What happens if I stop the agricultural use?
If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Smith County can recapture 3 years of tax savings - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.
Does Smith County use Form 50-129?
No — Smith CAD uses its own 1-d-1 application rather than the statewide Form 50-129, which is the single most common filing mistake in this county. Its posted appraisal standards were last reviewed February 17, 2022 and remain current. For history, the district accepts Texas Apiary Inspection Service permits, honey-production financials or leases.
Do you service Tyler, Lindale and the rest of Smith County?
Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Smith County — Tyler, Lindale, Whitehouse, Bullard, Troup, Arp, Winona, Hideaway, New Chapel Hill, Noonday, Flint, Emerald Bay, Gresham, Swan and Overton. Your application is filed with Smith County Appraisal District (Smith 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 Smith County is inside our regular service area.
Nearby counties we serve
Also serving nearby: Van Zandt County, Wood County, Gregg County, Henderson County, Anderson County.
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