Selling · Land

Selling Land or Acreage in Comal County: Survey, Easements and Ag or Wildlife Valuation

Land sells on paperwork as much as price. Here is the verified checklist and what to check officially.

Patrick Kevin Fagan

Texas Real Estate Sales Agent #454749, AXEN Realty LLC · Senior Loan Officer, NMLS ID #877741, NEXA Mortgage, LLC

Updated September 25, 2026

A grazing Comal County pasture with a survey stake in the foreground, live oaks and rolling hill behind

Patrick's Quick Answer

Selling acreage in Comal County runs on three verified rules. The 1-d-1 open-space appraisal requires the land to meet the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area and to have been in agricultural use at least five of the preceding seven years, with an application deadline of April 30. A change of use triggers a rollback covering the three tax years preceding the change-of-use year, but a change of ownership alone does not trigger rollback under 1-d-1. Wildlife management use requires the land to have qualified for 1-d-1 in the preceding year (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026), and the Texas Comptroller adds that wildlife use requires at least three of seven listed practices. The T-47 affidavit (form effective Nov 1, 2024) documents the survey's integrity for the buyer. The rollback interest rate and the minimum acreage for ag or wildlife were not verified in this pass.

A Comal County acreage sale is decided in three places: the appraisal district records, the survey, and the title commitment. This page walks the verified rules so you can see the tax and paperwork picture before you ask a buyer to sign.

The 1-d-1 open-space appraisal

Comal Appraisal District 1-d-1 open-space appraisal requires two things: the land must meet the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area, and it must have been in agricultural use at least five of the preceding seven years. The application deadline is April 30 (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026). If the tract qualifies, it is taxed on its agricultural productivity value instead of its market value, which is often the single biggest factor in the tax bill.

Rollback: what triggers it

Two things matter when the use changes. First, a change of use triggers a rollback covering the three tax years preceding the change-of-use year. Second, and good news for sellers, a change of ownership alone does not trigger rollback under 1-d-1 (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026). If a buyer keeps the land in qualifying use, the valuation continues without a rollback event.

Wildlife management use

Wildlife management is the alternative pathway for land that no longer grazes but sits in native habitat. In Comal County, wildlife management use requires the land to have qualified for 1-d-1 open-space appraisal in the preceding year (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026), and the Texas Comptroller adds that wildlife use requires at least three of seven listed wildlife management practices, such as habitat control, erosion control, predator control, providing supplemental supplies of water or food, providing shelters, or census counts.

The T-47 survey affidavit

The T-47 Residential Real Property Affidavit (form effective Nov 1, 2024) is how a seller swears to the survey's reliability: that there have been no new improvements, boundary fence changes, adjoining construction near the boundary, or new easements since the survey date. That affidavit lets the buyer rely on the existing survey instead of paying for a new one, and getting it right at the start prevents a title objection at closing.

What to verify with the official sources

  • Rollback interest rate and its Tax Code section: not verified in this pass. Check Texas Tax Code section 23.55 at statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
  • Minimum acreage for ag or wildlife in Comal County: not verified in this pass. Check the Comal CAD Ag Guidelines PDF for the minimum tract size.
  • Easements and access: the title commitment and the survey define these for the specific tract; the T-47 covers the survey's accuracy since its date.

Selling acreage? Get the value and the tax picture at once.

I build your land sale plan around the 1-d-1 status, the rollback exposure, the survey and easements, and the actual buyer pool, so the number you list matches the paper you carry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 1-d-1 open-space appraisal for land in Comal County? Tap to expand
Comal Appraisal District 1-d-1 open-space appraisal requires the land to meet the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area and to have been in agricultural use at least five of the preceding seven years, with an application deadline of April 30 (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026).
What triggers a rollback when I sell land? Tap to expand
A change of use triggers a rollback covering the three tax years preceding the change-of-use year. A change of ownership alone does not trigger rollback under 1-d-1 (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026).
How does wildlife management valuation work in Comal County? Tap to expand
Wildlife management use requires the land to have qualified for 1-d-1 open-space appraisal in the preceding year (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026), and the Texas Comptroller adds that wildlife use requires at least three of seven listed wildlife management practices.
What is the T-47 Residential Real Property Affidavit? Tap to expand
The T-47 affidavit (form effective Nov 1, 2024) is how the seller swears there have been no new improvements, boundary fence changes, adjoining construction near the boundary, or new easements since the survey date, so the buyer can rely on the existing survey.
What land sale details should I verify with the official sources? Tap to expand
The rollback interest rate and its Tax Code section were not verified in this pass; check Texas Tax Code section 23.55 at statutes.capitol.texas.gov. The minimum acreage for ag or wildlife in Comal County was also not verified; check the Comal CAD Ag Guidelines PDF.
If I buy land with an ag exemption, do I keep it? Tap to expand
Not automatically. The 1-d-1 open-space appraisal continues only if the land keeps qualifying: it must stay in agricultural use meeting the county's degree of intensity, with an application and deadline of April 30, and the land must have been in agricultural use five of the preceding seven years to qualify at all (Comal Appraisal District, accessed Sep 24, 2026). A change of use triggers a rollback covering the prior three tax years, while a change of ownership alone does not. Wildlife management use is an option, but the land must have qualified for 1-d-1 the preceding year and meet the practice requirements. Check the Comal CAD ag guidelines for the exact parcel.

About Patrick Kevin Fagan, REALTOR®

Patrick Kevin Fagan is a Texas Real Estate Sales Agent (#454749) with AXEN Realty LLC and a Senior Loan Officer (NMLS ID #877741) with NEXA Mortgage, LLC (NMLS #1660690). He brings 23+ years in mortgage lending and 19 years in real estate, serving homebuyers, homeowners, and sellers across Greater San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country.

Full credentials on the About page · Text or call 210-317-6514

Sincerely,
Patrick Kevin Fagan

Comal Appraisal District rules verified Sep 24, 2026; T-47 form effective Nov 1, 2024. The rollback interest rate and its Tax Code section, and the minimum acreage for ag or wildlife in Comal County, are unverified in this pass; check Texas Tax Code 23.55 and the Comal CAD Ag Guidelines PDF.

Answered by Patrick Kevin Fagan

Texas Real Estate Sales Agent #454749, AXEN Realty LLC · Senior Loan Officer, NMLS ID #877741, NEXA Mortgage, LLC

Call or text: 210-317-6514