Gulf Coast
|Last reviewed: August 2026Galveston County Ag Exemption Requirements
Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Galveston County, Texas. Below you'll find the rules for each exemption type, the filing deadline, and your local appraisal district contact information.
Appraisal District
Galveston Central Appraisal District
101 Texas, City, TX 77591
Available exemptions
Agricultural
Livestock, crops, hay, and general farming operations.
Requirements
- Apply by April 30
Qualifying uses
Coastal prairie with gumbo clay soils. 330-day growing season supports year-round forage. Rollback taxes are particularly costly given Houston-metro land values.
Wildlife Management
Native habitat management on land with existing ag valuation.
Requirements
- Requires existing ag valuation
- 3 management practices required
Well-suited for wildlife management, coastal marshes, prairie remnants, and major waterfowl/shorebird migration corridor.
Beekeeping
Honey bee operations as a qualifying agricultural use.
Requirements
- Minimum 5 acres
- Minimum 6 hives
6 hives minimum on 5-20 acres. Year-round subtropical forage available. Register with Texas Apiary Inspection Service.
Timber
Managed timber production on qualifying acreage.
Not a primary timber-producing region.
Learn more about each exemption
Conservation easements in Galveston County
Growth pressure from Houston metro expansion. Coastal prairie and wetland conservation value. 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.
Galveston County agricultural profile
Stocking rates & intensity standards
Coastal prairie regional norms: 3-8 acres per AU on improved bermudagrass/bahiagrass pasture. Contact Galveston CAD at (409) 935-1980 for official intensity standards.
Late applications (before ARB approval around July 20) incur a 10% penalty. Extension available via written request before April 30. Properties spanning multiple appraisal districts require separate applications in each. Contact: 9850 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway Ste. A101, Texas City, TX 77591.
How to apply
To apply for a property tax exemption in Galveston County, contact the Galveston 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 Galveston 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 Galveston County
Average tax rate: 1.52% - Market value: $10,001/ac - Ag value: $275/ac
Per-acre values are regional averages, not Galveston County appraisals. Use them for a rough estimate only.
Related guides
Can You Get an Ag Exemption on Leased Land in Texas?
Yes, leased land can qualify for the Texas ag exemption if the operation meets your county's intensi...
Texas Ag Exemption Audit: What Appraisal Districts Check
What triggers a Texas ag exemption audit, what records appraisal districts request, and how to prote...
Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program: How TFRLCP Pays
How the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program pays Texas landowners for conservation easem...
Do Horses Qualify for the Texas Ag Exemption?
Horses can qualify for the Texas ag exemption when raised for breeding or sale, but recreational hor...
Need help with your application?
A qualified consultant can help you navigate the process and ensure your application is complete.
Browse services