NORFOLK, Va. — Homeowners across Hampton Roads are starting to receive 2026 property tax assessment notices, and for many, the value on their home may look quite a bit higher than last year.
That number doesn’t determine your tax bill on its own. But if your assessed value jumps sharply, it can significantly affect what you pay in local property taxes. Below is what you need to know about why values change, how assessments are determined, and most importantly, what you can do before key appeal deadlines pass.
Why Assessments Can Change
Local assessors determine the value of your home based on market activity, what other homes in your area are selling for, not what you personally think your home is worth.
“The system is basically an assessment, a tax rate, and you multiply the tax rate times the value, and that gives you the property tax amount,” said Norfolk City Assessor Pete Rodda…