What are property taxes in Charlottesville, VA?

The City of Charlottesville’s real estate tax rate is $0.99 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2027, up one cent from last year. On a $507,055 home, the city’s median sale price over the past 12 months, that’s about $5,020 a year, paid in two equal halves due June 5 and December 5. This year’s second half is due Monday, December 7, because December 5 falls on a Saturday. Cars are taxed separately at $4.40 per $100.

When we Googled “What are property taxes in Charlottesville, VA?” on Nov. 5, 2026, Google’s AI Overview said: “Real Estate Tax: $0.99 per $100 of assessed value,” “Personal Property Tax: $4.40 per $100 of assessed value,” and “Taxes are split into two equal installments due June 5 and December 5 each year (extended to the next business day if falling on a weekend).”

I checked those against the city’s own pages and the adopted FY2027 budget, and they hold up. I’m Daniel Keeton, Broker and Founder of Keeton & Co. Our Charlottesville office is at 969 2nd St SE, and our agents work with buyers and sellers in the city and Albemarle County every week. Here’s what the numbers mean for you.

How much are property taxes on a typical Charlottesville home?

Charlottesville reassesses every parcel each year at market value. Your bill is your assessment ÷ 100 × $0.99.

Assessed value	Annual city real estate tax	Each half
$300,000	$2,970	$1,485
$400,000	$3,960	$1,980
$507,055 (city median sale price)	$5,020	$2,510
$548,762 (2026 average residential assessment)	$5,433	$2,716
$700,000	$6,930	$3,465

Rate: City of Charlottesville Real Estate Taxes page and FY2027 Adopted Budget, accessed Nov. 5, 2026. Average residential assessment: FY2027 Adopted Budget. Median sale price: $507,055 across 461 closed sales, Nov. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026 (Keeton & Co analysis of CAAR MLS data).

The city’s budget says 2026 residential assessments rose 4.74% on average. So even with a one-cent rate change, many owners saw a bigger increase from the assessment than from the rate.

When are Charlottesville property taxes due, and what if I’m late?

Date	What’s due
June 5	First half of real estate tax
December 5	Second half of real estate tax (Dec. 7 in 2026)
Day after the deadline	10% penalty on the unpaid tax
First of the next month	Interest at 10% a year, charged monthly

Source: City of Charlottesville Real Estate Taxes and Automated Payment Plan pages, accessed Nov. 5, 2026.

The city offers automatic bank drafts for the June and December bills. If your lender escrows your taxes, you don’t need to do anything, but check your first escrow statement after you buy.

Is Charlottesville’s tax rate higher than Albemarle County’s?

Yes. The city’s rate is $0.99 and Albemarle County’s is $0.894 for 2026. Charlottesville is an independent city, so city owners get one bill from the city, not a county bill on top.

	City of Charlottesville	Albemarle County
Real estate rate per $100	$0.99	$0.894
Tax on a $507,055 home	$5,020	$4,533
Median sale price, past 12 months	$507,055	$570,000
Median price per square foot	$311	$254

Albemarle rate from our Albemarle County property tax guide. Market data: Keeton & Co analysis of CAAR MLS data, Nov. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026.

The rate gap is about $490 a year at the same value. But the typical county home sells for more, so the typical county tax bill isn’t much smaller. A buyer choosing between the two should weigh walkability, schools, lot size and commute ahead of the rate. See is Charlottesville a good place to live and is Albemarle County a good place to live.

Can I get Charlottesville property tax relief?

The city runs two main programs, plus an exemption for qualifying veterans.

Program	Who qualifies	Benefit
Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled	65+ or permanently and totally disabled, living in the home, combined AGI of $65,000 or less	100% relief up to $39,000 AGI, then 80%, 60% and 40% tiers up to $65,000
Charlottesville Homeowner Assistance Program (CHAP)	Owner-occupants with no other real estate, home assessed at $550,000 or less, combined AGI of $65,000 or less	Grants of $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 or $2,500
Disabled veteran exemption	Veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability, and certain surviving spouses	Exemption from real estate tax

Source: City of Charlottesville Real Estate Tax Relief page, accessed Nov. 5, 2026. 2026 relief applications were due April 1, 2026, and the 2026 CHAP application window has closed.

If you buy in the city and think you’ll qualify, note that the city’s 2026 rules put owners who bought during the prior year in the group that files a full application, so watch for next spring’s window.

What should buyers and sellers in Charlottesville know about taxes?

Situation	What to do
Buying	Look up the current assessment, not last year’s. The city reassesses every year.
Buying above assessment	Expect your assessment to move toward your price over the next cycles.
Selling	Taxes are prorated at closing, so you’ll get credit for any half you’ve prepaid.
Moving from Albemarle	Your rate goes up, but you lose the county bill. Run both at the same value.
Budgeting for a car	$4.40 per $100 for personal property, billed by the city.

Pros and cons of Charlottesville’s tax picture

Pros	Cons
One bill, from the city	Higher rate than Albemarle County
Generous relief for qualifying seniors and disabled owners	Annual reassessments mean bills can rise every year
Automatic payment plan available	Car tax of $4.40 per $100 on top

The bottom line

At $0.99 per $100, most Charlottesville owners at today’s prices pay about $5,000 a year. That’s real money, but it’s only one line in the decision. If you’re thinking about selling, see what your home would sell for with a free home value estimate. If you’re buying, start your search or contact our Charlottesville office. You can also read our Charlottesville market report. Call 804-373-2223.

Tax information from the City of Charlottesville, accessed Nov. 5, 2026. Confirm your bill with the City Treasurer. AI Overview quoted from Google, captured Nov. 5, 2026. Market data: Keeton & Co analysis of CAAR MLS data, Nov. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026. This is general information, not tax advice. Written by Daniel Keeton, Broker & Founder. Updated Nov. 5, 2026.