Gulf Coast
|Data last verified: March 2026Galveston County Ag Exemption Requirements
Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Galveston County, Texas. Below you'll find the specific rules for each exemption type, minimum acreage, 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
- Minimum 10 acres
- 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
- Minimum 10 acres
- 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 1-D-1 (Application for 1-d-1 Agricultural Use Appraisal), available from the Galveston Central 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 Galveston County
Average tax rate: 1.52% - Market value: $10,001/ac - Ag value: $275/ac
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