North Texas
|Last reviewed: August 2026Collin County Ag Exemption Requirements
Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Collin County, Texas. Below you'll find the rules for each exemption type, the filing deadline, and your local appraisal district contact information.
Appraisal District
Collin Central Appraisal District
250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75069
Available exemptions
Agricultural
Livestock, crops, hay, and general farming operations.
Requirements
- Apply by May 1
Qualifying uses
No set minimum acreage but land must support bona fide agricultural operations. Minimum 2 animal units required year-round. Degree of intensity must match local standards for a prudent manager.
Wildlife Management
Native habitat management on land with existing ag valuation.
Requirements
- 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.
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 a primary timber-producing region.
Learn more about each exemption
Conservation easements in Collin County
Rapid suburban expansion from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Ranch and farmland under development pressure. 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.
Collin County agricultural profile
Stocking rates & intensity standards
Improved pasture: 1 AU per 3-5 acres. Native pasture: 1 AU per 4-6 acres. Minimum 2 animal units required year-round (180+ days). 1 AU = 1,000 lbs animal weight.
CCAD requires only 2 AU minimum (not the typical 3) as a benefit-of-doubt policy. Beekeeping requires 6 hives on first 5 acres plus 1 hive per additional 2.5 acres. Viticulture minimum is 3 acres wholesale; orchards 5 acres irrigated or 10 acres dryland.
How to apply
To apply for a property tax exemption in Collin County, contact the Collin Central 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 Collin Central 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 Collin County
Average tax rate: 1.48% - Market value: $8,475/ac - Ag value: $165/ac
Per-acre values are regional averages, not Collin County appraisals. Use them for a rough estimate only.
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