Here in Texas, you can qualify for an agricultural valuation (commonly called an Ag exemption) by keeping bees — but exactly how many hives you need depends on your county. The law that allows this is called the 1-D-1 Open Space Valuation, but each county interprets it a little differently.
That said, most follow what's known as the “Harris County Standard”:
- 6 hives for the first 5 acres
- Then 1 additional hive per 2.5 acres beyond that
So if you’ve got 10 acres, you'd typically need 8 hives. With 20 acres, the number is usually 12 hives total.
🐄 What if You’re Converting from Another Ag Use?
If your property is already under Ag valuation for cattle, hay, or another qualifying use, you can often switch to bees and qualify that first year. Just be sure to confirm the process with your county appraisal office.
🌱 Starting from Scratch?
If you’re starting from zero with no prior Ag history on the land, the county gives you five years to build up to the required number of hives. That’s your runway. Most folks don’t start with a full contingent of hives — they begin with 2 or 3 and build each year.
Think of it as the state giving you a five-year license to learn (and let’s be honest… probably kill a few hives along the way). It’s part of the process.
🐝 Want Help Getting It Done?
If you're ready to become a beekeeper yourself, the team at Charlie Bee Company is here to help. We offer introductory classes, ongoing support, and a whole lot of encouragement — because learning to work with bees takes time. It’s a journey, and it usually takes two to three years to really get your feet under you in the bees.
We also sell nucs in the spring, plus replacement queens and gear all season long — and we’ve got you covered in the off-season too, with winter supplies and planning help so you’re prepped when spring arrives.
If all that sounds a little overwhelming — or like you’re signing up to be a human pincushion — you can also hire a beekeeper like me. At Charlie Bee Company, we place and manage hives for landowners who want the Ag valuation without the stings.
Whichever path you take, we’re here to help.
📞 Got questions? Contact us at CharlieBee.com
🎥 Watch our short video about Ag exemption with bees