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South Texas

|Data last verified: March 2026

Bexar County Ag Exemption Requirements

Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Bexar County, Texas. Below you'll find the specific rules for each exemption type, minimum acreage, and your local appraisal district contact information.

Texas Longhorn standing in a rural South Texas field

Appraisal District

Bexar Appraisal District

411 N Frio St, San Antonio, TX 78207

Available exemptions

Agricultural

Livestock, crops, hay, and general farming operations.

Available

Requirements

  • Minimum 10 acres
  • Apply by April 30

Qualifying uses

CattleHayCropsHorsesGoatsSheep

Row/broadcast crop operations typically require 20+ acres. Hay operations typically require 10+ acres. Properties 6-10 acres may qualify if leased as part of an adjoining operation.

Wildlife Management

Native habitat management on land with existing ag valuation.

Available

Requirements

  • Minimum 10 acres
  • Requires existing ag valuation
  • 3 management practices required

Must have had ag valuation for at least 5 of the previous 7 years before converting to wildlife.

Beekeeping

Honey bee operations as a qualifying agricultural use.

Available

Requirements

  • Minimum 5 acres
  • Minimum 6 hives

6 colonies minimum on 5 acres. 1 additional hive per 2.5 additional acres. Maximum 20 acres.

Timber

Managed timber production on qualifying acreage.

Not applicable

Not a primary timber-producing region.

Learn more about each exemption

Conservation easements in Bexar County

Significant development pressure along the I-35 corridor. Agricultural and ranch lands at risk of fragmentation. Conservation easements are a separate instrument from property tax exemptions - they generate a federal income tax deduction by permanently restricting development rights. Most landowners benefit from both an exemption and an easement.

Bexar County agricultural profile

31"annual rainfall
265day growing season

Soil & terrain

Three ecological zones: northern Edwards Plateau (shallow rocky limestone, live oak/juniper/mesquite), central Blackland Prairie strip (deep dark Houston Black clay), southern South Texas Plains (loamy to clayey, mesquite/grasses/cacti).

What grows here

Beef cattle
Hay
Nursery crops
Corn
Grain sorghum
Small grains
Peanuts
Goats/sheep
Exotic game

Stocking rates & intensity standards

Two methods: (1) Minimum AU method (tracts 20 acres or under): minimum 4 AU regardless of pasture type. (2) Stocking ratio method (over 20 acres, by soil type): Improved pasture 4-10 acres/AU, Native pasture 6.5-20 acres/AU, Brush 8-40 acres/AU depending on soil type 1-5.

BCAD publishes a soil type map on their forms page — identify your property's soil type before calculating required AU. Goat head-count varies by breed: Spanish goat = 6 head per AU, Boer x Spanish = 5 head/AU, Angora = 8 head/AU. Late apps carry a 10% penalty.

How to apply

To apply for a property tax exemption in Bexar County, contact the Bexar Appraisal District directly. The standard application deadline is April 30 of each year, though late applications may be accepted until the appraisal review board approves the appraisal records.

The primary application form is Form 1-D-1 (Application for 1-d-1 Agricultural Use Appraisal), available from the Bexar Appraisal District website or the Texas Comptroller's office.

If your application is denied or your exemption is removed, you may face a rollback tax - the difference between what you paid under the special valuation and what you would have paid at market value, plus 7% interest per year, for the previous 5 years.

Estimated savings in Bexar County

Average tax rate: 1.54% - Market value: $5,850/ac - Ag value: $130/ac

Calculate savings

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Need help with your application?

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