Bee Ag Exemption in Somervell County, TX
To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Somervell County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 4 hives on the first 5 acres, stepping up about one hive per 2 additional acres — 7 hives at 10 acres, 9 at 15, and 12 at 20, 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 Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell CAD) by April 30.
Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees
Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties.
What does Somervell County require for a bee ag exemption?
Somervell County's intensity standard: 4 hives on the first 5 acres, stepping up about one hive per 2 additional acres — 7 hives at 10 acres, 9 at 15, and 12 at 20. Colonies on site 7 months of the year, and at least one active hive must remain on the property year-round. Requirements are set by the Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell 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 Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell CAD) — August 6, 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 Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell 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.
"Very friendly, professional and punctual. I have animals on property and they always contact me in advance of coming out. I’ll continue to use them." — James Brown, Google review
Your appraisal district
Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell CAD)
Phone:
(254) 897-4094
Email:
Address:
112 Allen Dr., Glen Rose, TX 76043-4526
Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Somervell County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Somervell County?
Somervell County's standard (verified directly with the county appraisal district, August 2026): 4 hives on the first 5 acres, stepping up about one hive per 2 additional acres — 7 hives at 10 acres, 9 at 15, and 12 at 20. Standards can change, so confirm with Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell CAD) at (254) 897-4094 — or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.
How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Somervell 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 Somervell County property?
Somervell County requires colonies on site at least 7 months of the year, and at least one active hive has to remain on the property year-round. We comply with both: the anchor hive stays put, the rest are managed to the county's standard, and every visit is documented.
When is the deadline to apply?
File Form 50-129 with Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell 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 Somervell County landowners.
What happens if I stop the agricultural use?
If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Somervell County can recapture 3 years of tax savings - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.
Do you service Glen Rose and the rest of Somervell County?
Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Somervell County — Glen Rose, Rainbow, Nemo, George's Creek and Rock Creek. Your application is filed with Somervell Central Appraisal District (Somervell 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 Somervell County is inside our regular service area.
Nearby counties we serve
Also serving nearby: Hood County, Johnson County, Bosque County, Erath County.
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