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|Last reviewed: August 2026Harris County Ag Exemption Requirements
Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Harris County, Texas. Below you'll find the rules for each exemption type, the filing deadline, and your local appraisal district contact information.
Appraisal District
Harris Central Appraisal District
13013 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77040
Available exemptions
Agricultural
Livestock, crops, hay, and general farming operations.
Requirements
- Apply by April 30
Qualifying uses
Requalification required every 3 years. Smaller tracts may qualify if part of a larger operation meeting intensity standards.
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 for beekeeping valuation.
Timber
Managed timber production on qualifying acreage.
Limited timber in northern portions of the county. Contact HCAD for eligibility.
Learn more about each exemption
Harris County agricultural profile
Stocking rates & intensity standards
Improved pasture: minimum 4 AU on 7+ acres, then 1 AU per 4 acres. Native pasture: minimum 4 AU on 8+ acres, then 1 AU per 7 acres.
HCAD uses a 3-year rotating requalification schedule by school district, property owners only file a full application every 3 years. Off-cycle years receive a pre-approval renewal letter. Confirm which cycle your school district is in before applying.
How to apply
To apply for a property tax exemption in Harris County, contact the Harris 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 Harris 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 Harris County
Average tax rate: 1.46% - Market value: $7,203/ac - Ag value: $150/ac
Per-acre values are regional averages, not Harris County appraisals. Use them for a rough estimate only.
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