Charlottesville city property taxes: rates, due dates and how to appeal

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Charlottesville’s Real Estate Taxes, City Assessor, Real Estate Tax Relief and Personal Property Taxes pages, the city’s FY 2027 Budget-in-Brief (PDF) and the Virginia Department of Taxation’s local tax rate surveys.

Charlottesville homeowners get one real estate tax bill, from the city. Charlottesville is an independent city and is not part of Albemarle County, so there is no county bill on top. The City Council set the rate at $0.99 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2027, a one-cent increase over last year. Taxes are due in two halves, on June 5 and Dec. 5. Because Dec. 5 falls on a Saturday this year, the second 2026 half is due Monday, Dec. 7.

Who to call

• Paying your bill, payment plans: City Treasurer, 434-970-3146, City Hall lobby, 605 E. Main St., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays (phones 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Pay online
• Your assessed value and appeals: City Assessor’s Office, 434-970-3136, 102 Fifth St. NE, by appointment, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
• Tax relief, veterans exemption, car tax: Commissioner of the Revenue, 434-970-3160, City Hall lobby

How your bill is worked out

Virginia law requires assessments at fair market value. The City Assessor’s Office values every parcel each year as of Jan. 1, based on the previous year’s sales, and mails change of assessment notices at the end of January. The council sets the rate each spring. The formula is the assessment divided by 100, times the rate.

An example. The median value of an owner-occupied home in Charlottesville is $448,400 in the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey five-year estimates. At $0.99, that home pays about $4,439 a year, or about $2,220 each June and December. Your own figure depends on the assessment for your parcel; look it up on the city’s GIS viewer.

How Charlottesville compares

In the state’s 2025 survey, Charlottesville’s rate was higher than Albemarle County’s $0.895 and those of Staunton, Lynchburg and Waynesboro, and below Harrisonburg’s $1.01.

Due dates and late charges

• June 5 and Dec. 5: each half is due. A deadline on a weekend moves to the next Monday.
• The day after the deadline: a 10% penalty on the unpaid tax.
• The first of the next month: interest starts at 10% a year, charged monthly.
• Three or more years unpaid: the property can be sold at a judicial tax sale.

Pay online (no fee by electronic check; card payments carry a third-party fee), by mail to City of Charlottesville Treasurer’s Office, P.O. Box 2854, Charlottesville, VA 22902, or in person at City Hall. If you cannot pay in full, call the Treasurer to set up a payment arrangement; penalties and interest still apply. If your mortgage company pays from escrow, check that it has the bill.

Cars and trucks are taxed separately, as personal property, on the same June 5 and Dec. 5 dates. The state survey lists the city’s personal property rate at $4.40 per $100 of assessed value.

Help for seniors, disabled owners, veterans and lower-income owners

• Real Estate Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled: for owners 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, as of Dec. 31 of the prior year, living in the home, with combined income up to $65,000. Relief is 100% up to $39,000 of income, 80% up to $52,000, 60% up to $58,500 and 40% up to $65,000. The 2026 window ran Feb. 2 to April 1; past participants recertify by last-name group.
• Disabled veterans and surviving spouses: a full exemption for a veteran with a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability rating, on the home the veteran owns and lives in, and for qualifying surviving spouses. Apply through the Commissioner of the Revenue.
• Charlottesville Homeowner Assistance Program (CHAP): grants of $1,000 to $2,500 for owner-occupants with combined income up to $65,000, no other real estate and a home assessed at no more than $550,000. The 2026 window closed Sept. 4; it reopens July 1.

How to appeal your assessment

You appeal the assessed value, not the rate. The assessor’s office says neither the size of the tax nor the size of the increase is grounds on its own.

1. Call the appraiser. Ring 434-970-3136 with your name, address or nine-digit parcel ID.
2. File an Assessment Appeal Application online, by email or by mail to the City Assessor’s Office, P.O. Box 911, Charlottesville, VA 22902, with evidence the value is above market, out of line with similar homes nearby or based on wrong facts (square footage, acreage, condition). The decision comes by mail within 30 days.
3. Board of Equalization. If you disagree, file with this citizen panel, appointed by the Circuit Court judge, within 30 days of the decision letter.
4. Circuit Court. The last step; you pay the court costs.

What this means for you

• The second 2026 half is due Monday, Dec. 7. Pay by then to avoid the 10% penalty.
• New 2027 assessments arrive at the end of January. That is the time to check your value.
• Seniors and disabled owners: the next relief window opens in early February.

Related guides: Charlottesville home prices, moving to Charlottesville and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Charlottesville?

The City Council set the real estate tax rate at $0.99 per $100 of assessed value in the fiscal 2027 budget, up one cent. Charlottesville is an independent city, so there is no separate county bill.

When are Charlottesville real estate taxes due?

In two equal halves, on June 5 and Dec. 5. A deadline on a weekend moves to the next Monday, so the second 2026 half is due Monday, Dec. 7.

What is the penalty for paying Charlottesville property taxes late?

A 10% penalty the day after the deadline, then interest at 10% a year from the first day of the following month.

How do I appeal my Charlottesville property assessment?

Call the City Assessor’s Office at 434-970-3136 to talk with the appraiser, then file an Assessment Appeal Application. If you disagree with the decision, you have 30 days to go to the Board of Equalization, and after that the Circuit Court.

Does Charlottesville offer property tax relief for seniors?

Yes. Homeowners 65 or older or permanently disabled with combined income up to $65,000 can get 40% to 100% off. Applications for 2026 ran Feb. 2 to April 1.