Agricultural & Timber Tax Exemption in Jefferson County, Texas

Track your agricultural and timber activities and prepare your compliance documentation for the Jefferson County Appraisal District. LandComply helps Jefferson County property owners maintain their special appraisal and avoid rollback taxes.

Gulf Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion

Agricultural Exemption Requirements in Jefferson County

Jefferson County is located in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes ecoregion of Texas. The Gulf Prairies and Marshes along the Texas coast support cattle ranching, rice production, and aquaculture (including crawfish farming). Coastal agriculture faces unique challenges including hurricane risk and saltwater intrusion.

To maintain an agricultural tax valuation (1-D-1 special appraisal) in Jefferson County, property owners must:

Use the land primarily for agriculture, timber, or a qualifying agricultural purpose
Meet the Jefferson County Appraisal District's intensity standards for their specific land use (stocking rates, crop production minimums, etc.)
Have been in qualifying agricultural use for at least 5 of the preceding 7 years
File the appropriate application or renewal with the Jefferson County Appraisal District
Maintain documentation of agricultural activities, expenses, and production records

Qualifying Agricultural Uses in Jefferson County

The following agricultural uses typically qualify for 1-D-1 special appraisal in Jefferson County:

Livestock Grazing — Cattle, goats, sheep, horses, exotic livestock
Crop Production — Row crops, grain, vegetables, cotton
Hay Production — Coastal bermuda, native hay, alfalfa
Beekeeping — Minimum 6 hives on 5-20 acres in most counties
Orchard / Vineyard — Fruit trees, pecans, grapes
Aquaculture — Fish farming, crawfish production

Each use type has specific intensity requirements set by the Jefferson County Appraisal District. Contact them directly for current stocking rates, minimum acreage, and production requirements in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Appraisal District Contact Information

Jefferson County Appraisal District

(409) 840-9944

https://www.jcad.org

View on Texas Comptroller Directory

Contact information maintained by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Contact the Jefferson County Appraisal District directly for county-specific filing requirements and intensity standards.

Intensity Standards in Jefferson County

Each county appraisal district sets its own intensity standards — the minimum level of agricultural activity required to qualify for special appraisal. Improved pasture typically requires 1 AU per 5-8 acres. Rice production must show active cultivation and harvest. Aquaculture operations have specific qualifying requirements.

Contact the Jefferson County Appraisal District at (409) 840-9944 for the exact intensity standards applicable to your property in Jefferson County.

Learn more about intensity standards → · Animal unit equivalents →

What Happens If You Don't Comply in Jefferson County?

Rollback Tax Warning

If the Jefferson County Appraisal District determines that your property no longer qualifies for agricultural or timber special appraisal, you may face rollback taxes — the difference between taxes paid at productivity value and taxes that would have been paid at full market value, for up to 3 years (under HB 3833), plus 7% interest if delinquent.

Common triggers for rollback taxes include:

Stocking rate dropping below the county's intensity minimum
Failing to file required applications or renewals
Change of use (converting ag land to residential or commercial use)
Subdividing property below the minimum qualifying acreage
Ownership transfer without timely reapplication

Learn more about rollback taxes →

Track Your Jefferson County Activities with LandComply

Log agricultural and timber activities year-round, track compliance against Jefferson County intensity standards, and prepare filing documentation for the Jefferson County Appraisal District — all from your phone.

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Jefferson County Appraisal District — Partner with LandComply

Are you with the Jefferson County Appraisal District? LandComply can help your office receive and process agricultural and timber compliance documentation more efficiently — standardized digital submissions with complete records, GPS-verified photos, and organized activity logs.