Palo Pinto County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Palo Pinto County lies west of Fort Worth along the Brazos River and Possum Kingdom Lake, where cattle ranching, hay production, and hunting-oriented rural land uses are common. Palo Pinto Appraisal District's published standards are especially useful for smaller tracts because they set a clear five-to-twenty-acre beekeeping range and a six-colony starting requirement.
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 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
Palo Pinto 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.
If the land is used to manage wildlife, list at least three of the wildlife management practices being used. Attach the wildlife management plan for the property using the appropriate Texas Parks & Wildlife Department form.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Wildlife management plan for the property using the appropriate Texas Parks & Wildlife Department form, if the land is used for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Grazing intensity standards not found in published document — confirm with CAD."
"The guidelines listed below will be required to distinguish qualifying agricultural tracts from hobby operations. This is a guideline only and any application for agricultural valuation below the minimum standards will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis."
"Palo Pinto Appraisal District's typical-prudent guidelines list minimum tract sizes of 20 acres for improved pasture, 40 acres for native pasture, 60 acres for barren land, and 20 acres for irrigated land; they do not publish acres-per-animal-unit rates."
Frequently Asked Questions — Palo Pinto County
- Palo Pinto starts with 6 colonies on the first 5 acres and adds 1 colony for every additional 2.5 acres. The additional 7.5 acres require 3 more colonies, so a 12.5-acre tract needs 9 active colonies.
- The first 5 acres require 6 colonies. The next 7.5 acres add 3 colonies, while the remaining 2.1 acres are less than 2.5 acres and add none, for a total of 9 colonies.
- No. Palo Pinto's published beekeeping range begins at 5 acres, so a 4-acre tract is 1 acre below the minimum.
- The application calls for at least 3 wildlife-management practices and a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department plan. Listing three practices meets the stated minimum; listing only two does not.
Palo Pinto Appraisal District
- Phone
- 940-659-1281
- ppad@palopintocad.org
- Address
- P.O. Box 250, Palo Pinto, TX 76484-0250
Nearby Counties
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