Where to File
The application for agricultural special valuation in Blanco County is filed with the Blanco County Appraisal District (BCAD), located in Johnson City. The appraisal district's contact information and application forms are available through the Texas Comptroller's website and directly from BCAD. The application form is Texas Comptroller Form 50-129 (Application for 1-d-1 Open-Space Agricultural Use Appraisal).
Timing
The deadline to file an application for the current tax year is April 30. Applications filed after this date for the current year will not be considered until the following year. If you purchase a property after April 30 of a given year, you may miss the window for that year's valuation — meaning you will pay taxes at market-value rates for the remainder of that year and need to apply by April 30 of the following year to establish agricultural valuation for the next tax year.
There is a late filing option with a penalty for applications filed after April 30 but before June 1, but this is less commonly used and does not guarantee approval.
What Documentation to Prepare
The appraisal district will ask for documentation demonstrating that the land has been in qualifying agricultural use for at least five of the preceding seven years (for the standard 1-d-1 open-space valuation). Common supporting documents include:
- Livestock records — brand registration, purchase/sale records for cattle or goats, veterinary bills
- Agricultural lease — if you lease the land to a farmer or rancher for production, a copy of the lease agreement is strong supporting evidence
- Hay production records — receipts for hay sales, baler records, or records of hay baled and fed on the property
- Wildlife management plan — for wildlife management valuation, a written plan developed with TPWD guidance
- Tax receipts from prior owner — showing the land was previously valued under agricultural special valuation
The Intensity Standards
The Blanco County Appraisal District applies "intensity standards" — guidelines for what level of agricultural activity is required to qualify. These are not published in precise form but reflect what a typical agricultural operation of that type in Blanco County would look like. For cattle, the standard generally reflects the county's typical stocking rate (roughly 15–25 acres per animal unit given Hill Country conditions). The appraisal district has discretion in evaluating whether use meets intensity standards.
If your application is denied, you have the right to protest the denial before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Many denials for new landowners are resolved at the ARB level with proper documentation.
