Kendall County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Kendall County sits in the Texas Hill Country northwest of San Antonio, where cow-calf herds, small livestock operations, and managed native range are common. Kendall AD's manual is especially useful because it separates improved grass from three native-range conditions and pairs those acreage standards with a county animal-unit equivalency chart.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Grass Range | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native Range I | 10 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native Range II | 25 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native Range III (oak) | 35 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native Range III (cedar) | 50 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 values are published by the county.
| Animal | Animal Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cow calf | 1 | County-published |
| mature bull | 1.25 | County-published |
| weaned calf | 0.6 | County-published |
| horse donkey mule | 1.25 | County-published |
| ewe | 0.2 | County-published |
| doe goat | 0.17 | County-published |
| axis fallow mouflon aoudad | 0.2 | County-published |
| blackbuck antelope | 0.11 | County-published |
| sika | 0.14 | County-published |
| alpacas | 0.2 | County-published |
| whitetail deer | 0.1 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Kendall 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.
Wildlife management is actively using the open-space land to propagate a sustainable breeding, migrating, or wintering population of indigenous wild animals or birds. The operator must practice a minimum of three approved practices: habitat control, erosion control, predator control, supplemental water, supplemental food, shelters, or census counts.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
Discretionary Caveats
"Overgrazing and abuse of a tract of land not meeting the typically accepted land stewardship practices will lead to a review of the 1-d-1 classification and that classification may be removed at the discretion of the Chief Appraiser."
"Depending on weather condition, land may be left idle in order to reestablish grasses. This is at the discretion of the Chief Appraiser."
"Minimum acreage not stated in published document — confirm with CAD."
Frequently Asked Questions — Kendall County
- Kendall AD lists Improved Grass Range at 1 animal unit per 5 acres. Two cow-calf animal units therefore require 2 × 5 = 10 acres, which matches the manual's typical cow-calf operation acreage.
- Native Range II is listed at 1 animal unit per 25 acres. Dividing 50 acres by 25 acres per animal unit gives 2 animal units.
- The manual limits apiculture to not less than 5 acres and not more than 20 acres, with a minimum of 6 hives. A 5-acre qualifying tract therefore needs 6 hives.
- Yes. The operator must carry out at least 3 approved wildlife-management practices, such as habitat, erosion, or predator control; supplemental food or water; shelters; or census counts.
Kendall Appraisal District
- Phone
- 830-249-8012
- Address
- 118 Market Ave., Boerne, TX 78006
- Website
- https://www.kendallad.org
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