South Texas
|Last reviewed: August 2026Hidalgo County Ag Exemption Requirements
Property tax exemption requirements and resources for Hidalgo County, Texas. Below you'll find the rules for each exemption type, the filing deadline, and your local appraisal district contact information.
Appraisal District
Hidalgo County Appraisal District
PO Box 208, Edinburg, TX 78540
Available exemptions
Agricultural
Livestock, crops, hay, and general farming operations.
Requirements
- Apply by April 30
Qualifying uses
Irrigated row crops and citrus dominate. Operations must meet commercial production standards typical of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Contact Hidalgo CAD at (956) 381-8466 for intensity requirements.
Wildlife Management
Native habitat management on land with existing ag valuation.
Requirements
- Requires existing ag valuation
- 3 management practices required
Available on qualifying land. Prior ag valuation required. Arid conditions mean larger acreage may be needed.
Beekeeping
Honey bee operations as a qualifying agricultural use.
Requirements
- Minimum 5 acres
- Minimum 6 hives
6 hives minimum on 5-20 acres. Register with Texas Apiary Inspection Service. Year-round subtropical forage available.
Timber
Managed timber production on qualifying acreage.
Not a primary timber-producing region.
Learn more about each exemption
Hidalgo County agricultural profile
Stocking rates & intensity standards
Not published by Hidalgo CAD. Rangeland carries approximately 1 AU per 10-20 acres on native brush (arid conditions). Irrigated vegetable and citrus operations are evaluated on production intensity rather than stocking rates.
Hidalgo CAD does not publish a public ag guidelines PDF, contact them directly at (956) 381-8466. Citrus, vegetable, and sugarcane operations are the primary qualifying activities. Irrigation access is effectively required for most operations given only 23 inches of annual rainfall.
How to apply
To apply for a property tax exemption in Hidalgo County, contact the Hidalgo County 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 Hidalgo County 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 Hidalgo County
Average tax rate: 1.85% - Market value: $5,850/ac - Ag value: $115/ac
Per-acre values are regional averages, not Hidalgo 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...
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...
Montgomery County ag exemption: 1-d-1 requirements, minimum acreage, and MCAD filing process
Montgomery Central Appraisal District requires 10 acres minimum for 1-d-1 agricultural appraisal. He...
Need help with your application?
A qualified consultant can help you navigate the process and ensure your application is complete.
Browse services