Bastrop County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Bastrop County sits southeast of Austin in the Post Oak Savannah, where native grassland, pine-and-hardwood brush, cattle, and small beekeeping operations meet fast growth along the Colorado River corridor. Bastrop CAD’s manual is unusually concrete: it specifies both five-animal-unit grazing thresholds and a separate annual-report requirement for beekeeping and wildlife properties.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| IMPROVED | 3 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| NATIVE | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
Beekeeping Intensity Standards
| Acreage Range | Base Hives | Extra Hives/Acre (above base) | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–20 acres | 6 | 0.4 | ✓ Verified |
Animal Unit Equivalencies
An animal unit (AU) is a standardized measure used to compare livestock of different sizes. One AU = one 1,000-lb cow. Your total stocking rate is calculated in AUs, then multiplied by the acres-per-AU standard for your pasture type. These values are published by the county.
| Animal | Animal Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cattle | 1 | County-published |
| sheep | 0.13 | County-published |
| spanish goat | 0.09 | County-published |
| angora goat | 0.07 | County-published |
| white tailed deer | 0.1 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Bastrop County allows wildlife management as a qualifying use. Landowners must implement at least 3 of the seven recognized wildlife management practices defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife. An annual wildlife management plan report is required.
Land must have been qualified and appraised as agricultural land during the year prior to the year the owner changes to the wildlife management use. An owner must perform at least three of seven listed wildlife management activities. Bastrop CAD requires Form 50-129 and Texas Parks and Wildlife’s form PWD 885, Wildlife Management Plan, and an annual report after approval.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Texas Parks and Wildlife’s form PWD 885, Wildlife Management Plan, if applying for wildlife management
- Supporting documentation such as maps, photos, planning grids and check points or goals for each tax year, if applying for wildlife management
- Bastrop CAD Annual Beekeeping Report, if applying for beekeeping
Discretionary Caveats
"The following practices and typical acreages for the different land categories and intensity requirements are intended to be used as general guidelines. Exceptions to the general rule will be handled on a case-by-case basis."
"Bastrop County has very limited row crop production. With limited data, the minimum requirements are a compilation of data from surrounding counties."
Frequently Asked Questions — Bastrop County
- Bastrop CAD’s improved-pasture table requires 5 animal units and lists 3 acres per animal unit. The calculation is 5 AUs × 3 acres per AU = 15 acres.
- The Bastrop CAD beekeeping table lists 10 hives for 15 acres. This follows its six-hive minimum at 5 acres plus one hive for each additional 2.5 acres.
- The land must have received agricultural appraisal in the prior year. The owner must submit Form 50-129 and TPWD form PWD 885, complete at least 3 of 7 practices, and file an annual report after approval.
Bastrop Central Appraisal District
- Phone
- 512-303-1930
- Address
- P.O. Drawer 578, Bastrop, TX 78602-0578
- Website
- https://bastropcad.org
Nearby Counties
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