Land near Caldwell.

Caldwell land guide: Burleson County agricultural appraisal and wildlife-management transition

For land near Caldwell, “ag exemption” usually refers to agricultural special appraisal under Texas’s 1-d-1 open-space rules. It is not automatic just because a tract is rural or has a certain number of acres. The Texas Comptroller describes the appraisal as a value based on land productivity instead of market value. Burleson County Appraisal District (BCAD) evaluates the application and the property’s use and history. First confirm that the exact parcel is in Burleson County; the Caldwell page location is only a geographic starting point.

BCAD’s currently linked Agricultural Land Qualification Guidelines say an application, current agricultural use, the required time history and the local degree-of-intensity test all matter. The guidelines say ten acres is typical for agricultural operations, but also explain that minimum intensity can vary with land type, use, terrain, soil, water and parcel circumstances. A 20-acre parcel therefore does not qualify by acreage alone. BCAD’s guidelines describe a five-of-seven-year agricultural history test outside incorporated city limits and five continuous years within incorporated limits. Ask the district how it applies those rules to the parcel’s current use, records and location.

Wildlife-management appraisal is a transition from qualifying open-space agricultural appraisal, not a shortcut for a new buyer to qualify raw acreage. BCAD’s posted guide says the land must have been appraised as open-space agriculture in the prior appraisal year, wildlife management must be the primary use, and at least three of seven approved practices must be carried out each year. The listed practices include habitat control, erosion control, predator control, supplemental water or food, shelter, and population census. BCAD’s guide sets a 15-acre county minimum, with an exception for qualifying land that was appraised as open-space agriculture in the previous year and has not changed ownership or size.

There is a filing-date difference across the official materials: BCAD’s linked guidelines say April 30 for the wildlife plan and 1-d-1 application; TPWD’s statewide FAQ says May 1. Confirm the deadline and forms for the current appraisal year with BCAD. Its district-information page lists 979-567-2318, [email protected], and 111 E. Fawn Street, Caldwell, TX 77836. The site currently lists weekday hours as 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Before making an offer or changing a property’s use, request the parcel’s current appraisal record, prior valuation history, applications, BCAD correspondence and available agricultural-use records. Ask BCAD to confirm the history and intensity requirements, any residential/nonqualifying area, transition eligibility, current deadlines and required evidence in writing. This guide summarizes public materials and is not a tax outcome or eligibility determination. Use the linked scenario tool to compare values and a tax rate you enter; it does not predict eligibility, bills or savings.

Facts to help plan the next check

• Burleson CAD’s currently linked Agricultural Land Qualification Guidelines say agricultural appraisal requires an application, current agricultural use, a time-period test and a degree-of-intensity test; acreage alone does not establish eligibility.
• The Burleson CAD guidelines say agricultural operations typically require a minimum of ten acres, but also say intensity can vary by land type, use, terrain, soil, water and parcel conditions; treat this as a district guideline rather than an automatic 10-acre qualification.
• The same Burleson CAD guidelines say land outside an incorporated city generally must have qualified for agricultural valuation in five of the prior seven years to meet its time-period test; they describe five continuous years for land within an incorporated city.
• For conversion to wildlife-management special valuation, Burleson CAD’s currently linked guidelines say the tract must have been appraised as open-space agricultural land in the prior appraisal year and wildlife management must become the primary use.
• Burleson CAD states a 15-acre minimum for wildlife management in Burleson County, with an exception for land appraised as open-space agriculture in the prior year that has not changed ownership or size.
• Burleson CAD says a wildlife-management plan and 1-d-1 application are due April 30 under its posted guidelines, while TPWD’s statewide FAQ says applications are due May 1; confirm the current filing deadline directly with BCAD before relying on either date.
• BCAD’s wildlife guidelines require at least three of seven management practices each year and an annual report; the district’s linked guide requests a narrative, map, at least five photos, at least five receipts and other evidence.
• The Texas Comptroller describes 1-d-1 appraisal as valuation based on land productivity rather than market value; the colloquial phrase “ag exemption” can therefore misstate the program.

Parcel-specific next checks

1. Confirm the parcel’s county and appraisal district from the legal description, survey and current appraisal record; do not rely only on a Caldwell mailing address or map pin.
2. Request the current BCAD account record, valuation history, application history and any prior notices or correspondence before relying on a seller’s statement about ag appraisal.
3. Ask BCAD to confirm the parcel’s qualifying current use, time-period history, degree of intensity and any residential or other nonqualifying area under its current guidelines.
4. If the tract is under 15 acres, ask BCAD whether the prior-year open-space appraisal and unchanged ownership and acreage exception applies before assuming wildlife-management appraisal is available.
5. Before planning a wildlife transition, confirm the prior appraisal year, primary wildlife-management use, required plan, at least three annual practices, annual report and current deadline directly with BCAD.
6. Keep dated evidence of agricultural or wildlife use, including applications, leases or production records, maps, photographs, receipts, census records and written district responses as applicable.
7. Confirm the current filing deadline and forms with BCAD because its linked local guide states April 30 while TPWD’s FAQ states May 1.
8. Use the Ag Valuation Scenario tool only with values and a combined tax rate you supply; verify taxable values and rates with the appraisal district and taxing units.

Sources

• Burleson CAD Agricultural Land Qualification Guidelines (currently linked by BCAD, posted 2024) ↗
• Burleson County Appraisal District district information and contact details ↗
• Burleson CAD Agricultural History Affidavit (public form) ↗
• Texas Comptroller: agricultural, timberland and wildlife special appraisal ↗
• Texas Parks & Wildlife: wildlife tax valuation application and acreage FAQ ↗
• Texas Comptroller: Burleson County appraisal district contact and taxing units ↗

Research checked 2026-11-07. Confirm current details for the exact parcel.

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