South Texas
|Last reviewed: August 2026Cameron County Ag Exemption Requirements
Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Cameron County, Texas. Below you'll find the rules for each exemption type, the filing deadline, and your local appraisal district contact information.
Available exemptions
Agricultural
Livestock, crops, hay, and general farming operations.
Requirements
- Apply by April 30
Qualifying uses
Rio Grande Valley, citrus, cotton, sugarcane, and vegetables are primary qualifying crops. Commercial production standards apply. Filing deadline is May 1 (not April 30). Cattle fever tick quarantine zones may affect livestock movement.
Wildlife Management
Native habitat management on land with existing ag valuation.
Requirements
- Requires existing ag valuation
- 3 management practices required
Available with prior ag valuation. Rio Grande Valley habitat supports unique subtropical wildlife management opportunities.
Beekeeping
Honey bee operations as a qualifying agricultural use.
Requirements
- Minimum 5 acres
- Minimum 6 hives
6 hives minimum on 5-20 acres. Subtropical forage available year-round. Register with Texas Apiary Inspection Service.
Timber
Managed timber production on qualifying acreage.
Not a primary timber-producing region.
Learn more about each exemption
Cameron County agricultural profile
Stocking rates & intensity standards
Not published by Cameron CAD. Rio Grande Valley rangeland is similar to Hidalgo County, irrigated crop intensity evaluated on commercial production standards.
Cameron CAD filing deadline is May 1, one day later than most Texas counties. Applications at cameroncad.org. Horse operations must document breeding with commercial intent; recreational horse keeping does not qualify. Contact: (956) 399-9322.
How to apply
To apply for a property tax exemption in Cameron County, contact the Cameron 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 50-129 (Application for 1-d-1 Agricultural Use Appraisal), available from the Cameron Appraisal District website or the Texas Comptroller's office.
If the use of your land changes, 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, for the 3 years preceding the year of the change. The change-of-use year itself is not included, and for 1-d-1 open-space land no interest is added to the rollback.
Estimated savings in Cameron County
Average tax rate: 1.37% - Market value: $5,850/ac - Ag value: $322/ac
Per-acre values are regional averages, not Cameron County appraisals. Use them for a rough estimate only.
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