Comal County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Comal County lies on the Edwards Plateau between San Antonio and Austin, where Hill Country pasture, livestock operations, apiaries, and wildlife habitat share the landscape with fast-growing New Braunfels-area development. Comal Appraisal District’s manual is especially useful because it separates improved pasture from good and average native pasture, sets a three-animal-unit livestock baseline, and publishes a full apiary hive schedule.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Improved pasture | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native pasture Good | 15 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native pasture Average | 25 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
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 are statewide default values — confirm with your CAD.
| Animal | Animal Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cow | 1 | Statewide default |
| cow calf | 1 | Statewide default |
| horse | 1 | Statewide default |
| sheep | 0.2 | Statewide default |
| goat | 0.17 | Statewide default |
| deer | 0.2 | Statewide default |
| turkey | 0.018 | Statewide default |
| chicken | 0.01 | Statewide default |
Wildlife Management Option
Comal 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 qualified for and been appraised as open space in the previous year. A state wildlife management plan and annual report are required; the plan requires at least three practices. For reduced tracts, Comal CAD applies 20 acres per tract or 12.5 acres per association tract; otherwise, there is no minimum acreage.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Supplement to 1-D-1 Application
- Copy of the written lease, if the land is leased
- State wildlife management plan, if applying for wildlife management
- Wildlife management annual report, if approved under wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"The minimum acreage may be established per operation."
"Variations of the above listed or other types of operations may exist within Comal County, however, they will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the District."
"Minimum acreage not stated in published document — confirm with CAD."
Frequently Asked Questions — Comal County
- Comal CAD’s livestock table lists 3 required animal units and 5 recommended acres for improved pasture. The district also says livestock operations must meet the 3-animal-unit minimum for open-space valuation.
- Twelve acres falls in Comal CAD’s 11 to 12.99-acre apiary band, which requires 9 hives. The hives must be active, kept alive, actively maintained, and located on the property for the bulk of the calendar year.
- Not as a standard individual reduced tract: Comal CAD applies a 20-acre minimum per tract when the tract has fewer acres than it did on January 1 of the preceding tax year. A 12.5-acre threshold applies to an association tract, and the land must already have qualified as open space in the previous year.
Comal Appraisal District
- Phone
- 830-625-8597
- comalad@co.comal.tx.us
- Address
- 900 S. Seguin Ave. New Braunfels, TX 78130
- Website
- https://www.comalad.org
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