Minimum active hives: 6on the first 5
qualifying acres

Bee section approved December 13, 2021

Qualifying bee acreage: 5–20 acres

Land used for qualifying beekeeping, with the approved acreage shown separately.

Inspection records: Annual CAD inspection

Keep the dated records with the property’s account details.

A “bee exemption” is usually 1-d-1 open-space agricultural appraisal of qualifying land. Your records support the actual beekeeping taking place there.

The local hive schedule

Qualifying acreage.
Active colonies.

Add one hive for each complete additional 2.5 acres.

The table shows whole-step examples. Keep the actual qualifying acreage in your records.

Edwards County acreage and active-hive schedule
Qualifying acres (examples)	Active hives
5	6
7.5	7
10	8
12.5	9
15	10
17.5	11
20	12

Beyond the hive count

What Edwards wants to see.

Hive and forage locations: Within 2 miles

Show the identified production or pollination forage on a map.

Maintained valuation: Annual inspection

The ongoing-maintenance section describes a CAD inspection.

Ongoing management: Year-round hive health

Document feeding, health and production throughout the year.

Edwards separates maintaining an approved valuation from building history.

Edwards' guide begins at six hives on five acres and adds one for each complete additional 2.5 acres. For an already approved operation, it calls for year-round hive health, continued intensity, production records, registration, and documentation when requested. It also describes an annual CAD inspection.³⁰

The district places hives no more than two miles from identified plants and foliage used for production or pollination. A useful Edwards packet therefore includes a forage map as well as inspection and feeding records. Keep those ongoing records separate from the guide's initial history-building process.

Keep with the year’s records

Records for your Edwards property

Forage map relating hives to identified plants
Health, inspection and feeding records
Production records
Registration and current district correspondence

Visit the appraisal district

Records and reporting support

Already have your bee exemption?

We help organize your beekeeping records and prepare county-requested documentation for $99 a year. Tell us about your Edwards County property to get started.

Get started now$99/year · Support by email

A few Edwards County questions.

What makes Edwards' hive map useful?

It can show hive locations in relation to the identified forage covered by the district's two-mile provision.

Can my beekeeper’s records be part of the packet?

Yes. Keep dated service notes that identify your Edwards County property, the active-colony count, and the work completed. Add the relevant agreement or lease.