How many active hives are required on 12.5 acres in San Jacinto County?

SJCAD starts with 6 colonies on the first 5 acres and adds one hive per additional 2.5 acres. A 12.5-acre tract has 7.5 additional acres, so 7.5 ÷ 2.5 = 3 additional hives and 6 + 3 = 9 colonies.

What goat operation does SJCAD publish for a 10-acre tract?

SJCAD requires approximately 10 acres, enough grasses and other food sources to support 10 goats per 5 acres, and at least 20 reproducing nanny goats. On 10 acres, 10 goats per 5 acres × 2 = 20 goats, matching the stated 20-goat minimum.

What hay production intensity applies to 10 acres in San Jacinto County?

SJCAD’s hay-field guideline calls for approximately 10 acres and proof of two cuttings in years of normal rainfall. It also says hay production should be approximately 3,000 pounds per acre, so 10 acres corresponds to about 30,000 pounds of marketable hay.

Can a newly acquired San Jacinto County tract move directly to wildlife management?

No. The tract must have qualified and been appraised as open-space agricultural or timber land in the year before conversion. It must then have a management plan and map, complete at least 3 of 7 practices each year, and submit the required annual report.

San Jacinto County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: San Jacinto County Appraisal District official guidelines

San Jacinto County lies northeast of Houston in the Piney Woods around Lake Livingston, where fenced pasture, hay fields, livestock, and small apiaries are common rural uses. SJCAD’s revised guidelines are particularly helpful because they pair acreage and head-count standards for livestock with specific production thresholds for hay and truck farms, plus a documented hive formula and annual-report requirements for bees and wildlife management.

Min. Acreage

3 ac

History Requirement

Land must have been used principally for agricultural use for any five (5) of the preceding seven (7) years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

936-653-1450

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

San Jacinto 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 or timber land in the year prior to conversion to wildlife management use. A management plan and map must be submitted, and at least 3 of 7 management practices must be performed each year. The Chief Appraiser will require an annual report on describing how the management plan was implemented during the year. For reduced tracts, SJCAD uses Comptroller rule 9.2005 with 94% for individual landowners and 92% for Wildlife Property Management Associations.