Bee Ag Exemption in Wise County, TX
To qualify for a bee ag exemption in Wise County, you need 5–20 acres of open land and 6 hives on the first 5 acres plus 1 per additional 2.5 acres (max 12), on site at least 185 days a year. Timber Creek Bees places, manages, and documents the hives — you file Form 50-129 plus the WCAD Supplemental Beekeeping Questionnaire by April 30, and the Bee Annual Check List each year after.
Reviewed by Hayden - Timber Creek Bees
Commercial beekeeper - 2,000 hives across 40+ Texas Counties.
What does Wise County require for a bee ag exemption?
Wise County's intensity standard: 6 hives on the first 5 acres, plus 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres (maximum 12 hives at 20 acres). Wise CAD requires hives on site a minimum of 185 days each year, hives elevated off the ground, and flowering plants where natural forage is limited. The county's beekeeping packet includes the WCAD Supplemental Beekeeping Questionnaire with the application and a Bee Annual Check List due April 30 every year. Requirements are set by the Wise County Appraisal District (Wise 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 Wise County Appraisal District (Wise CAD) — July 28, 2026.
We re-confirm every county's standard each season
48
hives we manage in Wise County
6
Wise 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 plus the WCAD Supplemental Beekeeping Questionnaire with Wise County Appraisal District (Wise 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
Wise County Appraisal District (Wise CAD)
Phone:
(940) 627-3081
Email:
Address:
400 E. Business 380, Decatur, TX 76234-3165
Changing to non-agricultural use triggers a rollback: Wise County recaptures 3 years of tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hives do I need for an ag exemption in Wise County?
Wise 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 Wise County Appraisal District (Wise CAD) at (940) 627-3081 - or let us place hives to spec and keep the records.
How many acres qualify for a beekeeping ag valuation in Wise 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 Wise County property?
Wise County sets a minimum of 185 days on site, which is more specific than the roughly 7 months most counties use. We place and manage your hives to that standard and 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 Wise County Appraisal District (Wise 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 Wise County landowners.
What happens if I stop the agricultural use?
If land under 1-d-1 valuation changes to non-agricultural use, Wise County can recapture 3 years of tax savings - the rollback tax. Keeping qualifying use continuous is what protects you.
Does Wise County require anything every year after approval?
Yes. Wise CAD's Bee Annual Check List is due each year by April 30 to keep the valuation, and the district asks for its Supplemental Beekeeping Questionnaire at application. Wise also states a minimum of 185 days on site — more specific than the seven months most counties use — expects hives elevated off the ground, and expects flowering plants where natural forage is limited.
Do you service Decatur, Bridgeport and the rest of Wise County?
Yes. Timber Creek Bees places and manages hives on qualifying land throughout Wise County — Decatur, Bridgeport, Boyd, Rhome, Newark, Aurora, Alvord, Chico, Paradise, Runaway Bay, Lake Bridgeport, New Fairview, Briar, Slidell, Greenwood, Cottondale, Boonsville, Crafton, Balsora and Springtown. Your application is filed with Wise County Appraisal District (Wise 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 Wise County is inside our regular service area.
Nearby counties we serve
Also serving nearby: Denton County, Cooke County, Montague County, Parker County, Tarrant County.
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