A wildlife exemption is an alternative type of agricultural exemption that lets you keep your low property taxes by performing activities aimed at helping native Texas wildlife rather than, or alongside, traditional agriculture uses.
These property tax savings are designed to protect open-space land and that is what makes maintaining Ag and Wildlife exemptions so beneficial across the state. Open-space lands, including those under timber, ag, and wildlife exemptions in Texas help provide clean water, clean air, food and fiber production, and beautiful Texas landscapes. The requirements of maintaining a wildlife exemption are designed to benefit native wildlife and their habitats on your land.
A property that enjoys a wildlife exemption, regardless of size, is part of the six million acres in Texas currently being managed to preserve open spaces and lower property taxes β while increasing property aesthetics and property value. No, there is no minimum acreage to qualify for a wildlife exemption unless your property acreage has decreased in size last January 1st. In that case, qualifications for a wildlife exemption can vary by where your property is located.
To maintain a wildlife tax exemption, landowners must conduct at least three of seven wildlife management practices each year. These include habitat control, erosion control, predator control, supplemental water, supplemental food, supplemental shelter, and census counts. Some capital-intensive activities, such as erosion control and supplemental water, can count for up to ten years as long as annual maintenance is performed.
Plateau works with each landowner to take full advantage of their natural habitat, to target or attract preferred species, and to elect activities that the landowner can maintain on their own or with assistance.
