Burleson County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Burleson County sits in the Brazos Valley between Austin and Houston, where pasture, hay ground, row crops, and livestock operations are common. BCAD’s guidelines are especially useful for small rural tracts because they give a county-specific three-animal-unit livestock threshold and a detailed active-hive schedule for beekeeping.
Beekeeping Intensity Standards
| Acreage Range | Base Hives | Extra Hives/Acre (above base) | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–20 acres | 6 | 0 | ✓ 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 |
| mature horse | 1 | County-published |
| sheep | 0.2 | County-published |
| goat | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| llama alpaca | 0.5 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Burleson 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 open-space agriculture land in the year prior to conversion to wildlife management use. The primary use of the land must be managing wildlife and at least three of the following seven management practices must be performed each year. The minimum acreage for wildlife in Burleson County is fifteen acres. All accounts receiving the wildlife management valuation are required to submit an annual report by April 30th.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- All supporting documentation to support the claim of agricultural use
- A current copy of the lease along with additional documentation, if applying using a lease agreement
- Wildlife Management Plan on a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department form, accompanied with a 1-d-1 Open Space application, if applying for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Grazing intensity standards not found in published document — confirm with CAD."
"BCAD requires a minimum of three animal units to qualify for the agriculture valuation."
"It should be noted that these guidelines are to be used as a general guide for qualifying agricultural land. Exceptions to this guide will be handled on a case-by-case basis."
"If livestock are unable to be verified, BCAD may request an onsite inspection."
"Under extreme conditions the Governor’s office can declare a drought declaration. Usually this occurs if the drought lasts for the majority of the year. If this declaration occurs the District will work with landowners on the intensity levels."
"The Chief Appraiser has determined the need for a new (updated) application."
Frequently Asked Questions — Burleson County
- BCAD’s beekeeping table requires 9 active hives on 12.50 acres. That is the listed tier between 10 acres (8 hives) and 15 acres (10 hives).
- BCAD requires at least 3 animal units, and its table defines 5 sheep as 1 animal unit. 3 AUs × 5 sheep per AU = 15 sheep.
- Fifteen acres meets BCAD’s stated wildlife minimum. The tract must also have qualified for open-space agricultural appraisal in the prior year, have a TPWD wildlife plan, and carry out at least 3 of the 7 listed practices each year.
Burleson County Appraisal District
- Phone
- 979-567-2318
- Address
- P.O. Box 1000 Caldwell, TX 77836-1000
- Website
- https://burlesonappraisal.com
Nearby Counties
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