Texas

[Nksg75]

Good evening everyone!
I already have chickens, and a large coop here in Texas, however we may be moving in a couple of years to a larger home with more acres.
I have a few questions before I even begin to hire a pole barn company-any to build this coop.

Question regarding Texas ad valorem taxes and the chicken coop/rabbit pen exemptions.
Per Texas law:

House Bill 2535 amends the Tax Code to require a chief appraiser, in determining the market value of real property, to analyze the effect on that value of chicken coops or rabbit pens used for the noncommercial production of food for personal consumption and to exclude from that value the value of the coops or pens.


So essentially when I build my new coop 24x36 on the land we will eventually be moving to, I should not be taxed on that structure.

Here’s the thing..
It’s in Matagorda county Texas, and let’s just say they are not the most cooperative appraisal district. I wanted to get an idea of how much resistance I will have with them.
I called today and spoke with a peculiar lady who initially told me that coops can be taxed. (I realize per state law that she was incorrect, however I was not going to go into legal terms/law the first call.)
She then asked “is it a fancy chicken coop?”
I was unsure of her definition of fancy. I asked her for clarification of fancy.. she then said chicken coops that are within normal range “a board and some chicken wire going around it”.
After her “normal” explanation I damn near giggled into the phone, but held my tongue.
She then said she needed to double check with the appraiser. She came back on the line, and stated that no chicken coops are not taxed, but then she asked how Mitch I spent on it. I told her I have not spent a dime yet, because it doesn’t exist as of today.
She then said that if it’s really expensive and fancy I would probably be taxed on it.
So I now assume if it looks like a shanty shack and all the chickens are killed the first night there(yes a bit sarcastic) then all is good with the appraisal district, if I have it built to last more than a few storms then it’s officially a fancy coop, and I will be taxed.
Can anyone clarify on the Texas law whether there is a size limit on chicken coops?
I can’t find anywhere on the site that puts a size limit on chicken coops.
I don’t mind going against the appraisal district, because I am truly only using it for my own families eggs. I am not using it for commercial purposes, I just don’t like squeezing chickens in a tight space.
There are more predators on this new land (60 acres) than the 10 acres we have the chickens on now.
Any help appreciated

 

[WingItRanch]

Good evening everyone!
I already have chickens, and a large coop here in Texas, however we may be moving in a couple of years to a larger home with more acres.
I have a few questions before I even begin to hire a pole barn company-any to build this coop.

Question regarding Texas ad valorem taxes and the chicken coop/rabbit pen exemptions.
Per Texas law:

House Bill 2535 amends the Tax Code to require a chief appraiser, in determining the market value of real property, to analyze the effect on that value of chicken coops or rabbit pens used for the noncommercial production of food for personal consumption and to exclude from that value the value of the coops or pens.


So essentially when I build my new coop 24x36 on the land we will eventually be moving to, I should not be taxed on that structure.

Here’s the thing..
It’s in Matagorda county Texas, and let’s just say they are not the most cooperative appraisal district. I wanted to get an idea of how much resistance I will have with them.
I called today and spoke with a peculiar lady who initially told me that coops can be taxed. (I realize per state law that she was incorrect, however I was not going to go into legal terms/law the first call.)
She then asked “is it a fancy chicken coop?”
I was unsure of her definition of fancy. I asked her for clarification of fancy.. she then said chicken coops that are within normal range “a board and some chicken wire going around it”.
After her “normal” explanation I damn near giggled into the phone, but held my tongue.
She then said she needed to double check with the appraiser. She came back on the line, and stated that no chicken coops are not taxed, but then she asked how Mitch I spent on it. I told her I have not spent a dime yet, because it doesn’t exist as of today.
She then said that if it’s really expensive and fancy I would probably be taxed on it.
So I now assume if it looks like a shanty shack and all the chickens are killed the first night there(yes a bit sarcastic) then all is good with the appraisal district, if I have it built to last more than a few storms then it’s officially a fancy coop, and I will be taxed.
Can anyone clarify on the Texas law whether there is a size limit on chicken coops?
I can’t find anywhere on the site that puts a size limit on chicken coops.
I don’t mind going against the appraisal district, because I am truly only using it for my own families eggs. I am not using it for commercial purposes, I just don’t like squeezing chickens in a tight space.
There are more predators on this new land (60 acres) than the 10 acres we have the chickens on now.
Any help appreciated

Congrats on your new place! It sounds like the lady you spoke with has no idea what she's talking about. Fancy or not, large or small, it shouldn't matter.

Does your new place have any restrictions? Just to clarify- you're concerned with them appraising your property for a higher value which means more property tax, correct?

 

[Nksg75]

Congrats on your new place! It sounds like the lady you spoke with has no idea what she's talking about. Fancy or not, large or small, it shouldn't matter.

Does your new place have any restrictions? Just to clarify- you're concerned with them appraising your property for a higher value which means more property tax, correct?

Correct, I don’t want them to tax me on this new pole barn that will only be used as a chicken coops.
No, it’s a rural area, so no restrictions on animals.
Only thing is, it’s near the coast, so we are having the builders certify it for 150 mph winds.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Correct, I don’t want them to tax me on this new pole barn that will only be used as a chicken coops.
No, it’s a rural area, so no restrictions on animals.
Only thing is, it’s near the coast, so we are having the builders certify it for 150 mph winds.

I am nowhere near the coast, but the limestone County appraisers go around every year, property by property, and do their thing, they have never included my coop as a "structure" on the property that increases value, and it is not a shanty Congrats on the new property, a new coop will be exciting! If your appraiser tries to, is definitely fight that.

 

[Nksg75]

I am nowhere near the coast, but the limestone County appraisers go around every year, property by property, and do their thing, they have never included my coop as a "structure" on the property that increases value, and it is not a shanty Congrats on the new property, a new coop will be exciting! If your appraiser tries to, is definitely fight that.

Thanks.
That’s the thing, I would like to avoid a huge fight on the chicken coop because we will already be going head to head on the house. The house is currently not being lived in, (no homestead) and they didn’t put the circuit breaker limitation on it last year. Since it’s not in our name yet, and the owner (FIL) has failed to pay attention and remedy this, the market value soared close to 1 million for the house and acreage. However most of the 60 acres is on ag. (Guess we are lucky as far as that’s concerned)
I didn’t want to tell them who I am, being a small town and all.

 

[Nksg75]

I am nowhere near the coast, but the limestone County appraisers go around every year, property by property, and do their thing, they have never included my coop as a "structure" on the property that increases value, and it is not a shanty Congrats on the new property, a new coop will be exciting! If your appraiser tries to, is definitely fight that.

Let me ask you, what do they label it as? Is it just not listed as a building of any sort?
Or does it show up as exempt?

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Let me ask you, what do they label it as? Is it just not listed as a building of any sort?
Or does it show up as exempt?

It isn't listed at all, my husband's shop is, my she- shed that is inside the chicken yard is, both our decks, pool and pool deck, nothing about a chicken coop. Our first year there I was home when they came and went outside cuz I wanted to know who these men were perusing around my property. They introduced themselves and we started talking, they did ask me what it was, but nothing else was said about it.

 

[NagemTX]

I would think if it can dubble as a barn they might count it.

 

[Nksg75]

Let me ask you, what do they label it as? Is it just not listed as a building of any sort?
Or does it show up as exempt?

It’s hasn’t been built yet, so there is absolutely nothing there. I am just in the planning stages and originally wanted to figure out if there is a size listed somewhere that I can’t go over. I was planning on a 24x36 pole barn, however in the state law, I can’t find a thing about sizes. Meaning will the 24x36 still not be taxed or is there some hidden area that states the size cannot exceed …

 

[Nksg75]

I would think if it can dubble as a barn they might count it.

True, however I am trying to figure out if anywhere in that law does it state a size.
I truly am only using it for a coop, I just tend to not cull the older girls. So as you can imagine, I have quite a few ladies that don’t lay, just live out the remainder of their lives with me.
Yes, I know many of you may think it’s not logical, my husband is one of them.