Contra Costa County, California

2530 Arnold Dr, Suite 100
Martinez, California 94553

Tel: 925-313-7400
Fax: 925-313-7488

County Website: Contra Costa county
Assessor Website: Contra Costa county assessor

Contra Costa County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions

Assessment Appeals is separate from the Assessors Office and was established to decide disputes between property owners and the Assessors Office
It is staffed from within the Clerk of the Board by the Assessment Appeals Secretary
Download the application form at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/68174/Assessment-Appeals-Application-Form-2020
Once completed, mail application and $40 check to Assessment Appeals Board 1025 Escobar Street 1st Floor Martinez, CA 94553
Regular Assessment Appeals must be filed between July 2 and November 30 of each calendar year.
Supplemental or Escape assessments must be filed within 60 days of the notice from the Assessor.
Familiarize with the rules of the assessment hearing at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7090

URLs

Here's how to lower your property taxes in Contra Costa county

Contact the county assessor

Contact the Contra Costa county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Contra Costa county assessor's website to find the phone number to call. If the assessor determines that your property is worth less than the value on which your taxes are based, your property taxes may be lowered.

Tax exemptions

Start by finding what your tax bill is. Typically you will find your tax bill information on your mortgage statement. Look for tax exemptions or credits that you may be eligible for. Many states and localities offer exemptions or credits for homeowners who meet certain criteria, information such as being over a certain age or having a low income. Contra Costa county may have these types of exemptions available for homeowners. These exemptions and credits can lower the property tax you owe.

Appeal tax assessment

Appeal the property tax assessment. If you believe that your property's value has been overestimated, you can typically appeal the assessment to your Contra Costa county tax assessor's office. This is part of the services that your assessor's office provides. You will need to provide evidence to support your claim, such as a recent appraisal or sales data for comparable properties and homes in your area. Usually, you will meet with the Board of Equalization. If your appeal is successful, your property taxes may be lowered.

Challenge the tax rate

Consider challenging the tax rate. In some cases, the amount of property taxes you owe is not based on the value of your property, but on the tax rate set by your local government. If you believe that the tax rate is too high, you can contact your Contra Costa county government and ask them to consider reducing it.

Property Tax Rules

Stay up-to-date on your property's value and property tax rules. For the purpose of lowering your Contra Costa county property tax, property value is the assessed property value and not the market property value. Assessed property value is used for taxation purposes while market property value is what a buyer and seller would likely agree on. Typically the assessed value is lower than the market value. Your property's value can change over time due to a variety of factors, such as changes in the local real estate market or improvements you make to your property. To ensure that your property taxes are accurate and fair, it is important to stay informed about your property's value and contact Contra Costa county local tax assessor's office if you believe there has been a significant change.

Keep in mind that property tax laws and regulations can vary, so it is important to consult with your Contra Costa county California tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.

About Contra Costa County

Homes in Contra Costa county have a median home value of $653,430.

Contra Costa county home values are ranked 9 out of 58 counties in the state of California for median home price. The average median home value in California is $342,213. Modoc county has the lowest median price at $154,850. San Mateo county has the highest median price at $1,162,670.

Compared to the rest of the United States, Contra Costa county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~400%.

California Median Home Values by County

The median household income in Contra Costa county is $103,997.

Compared to the state of California and the United States, Contra Costa county's median household income is higher than the state of California's average median household income of $71,109 and the United States average median household income of $54,172.

income

Contra Costa county's population has grown from 803,731 in 1990 to 1,165,927 in 2020, an increase of 45% over that time frame.

For comparison, the state of California's population has grown from 29,811,427 in 1990 to 39,538,223 in 2020, an increase of 33% over that time frame.

In the United States, the population has grown from 248,790,925 in 1990 to 331,449,281 in 2020, an increase of 33% over that time frame.

Contra Costa county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is greater than the population change for California and the United States.

population

Contra Costa County California Cities

Alamo, Antioch, Bethel Island, Black Hawk, Brentwood, Byron, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Danville, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Port Costa, Richmond, Rodeo, San Pablo, San Ramon, Shore Acres, Walnut Creek

Contra Costa County California Zipcodes

94506 / 94507 / 94509 / 94511 / 94513 / 94514 / 94517 / 94518 / 94519 / 94520 / 94521 / 94523 / 94525 / 94526 / 94530 / 94547 / 94549 / 94553 / 94556 / 94561 / 94563 / 94564 / 94565 / 94569 / 94572 / 94583 / 94595 / 94596 / 94598 / 94801 / 94803 / 94804 / 94805 / 94806 /

California Counties

Alameda / Alpine / Amador / Butte / Calaveras / Colusa / Contra Costa / Del Norte / El Dorado / Fresno / Glenn / Humboldt / Imperial / Inyo / Kern / Kings / Lake / Lassen / Los Angeles / Madera / Marin / Mariposa / Mendocino / Merced / Modoc / Mono / Monterey / Napa / Nevada / Orange / Placer / Plumas / Riverside / Sacramento / San Benito / San Bernardino / San Diego / San Francisco / San Joaquin / San Luis Obispo / San Mateo / Santa Barbara / Santa Clara / Santa Cruz / Shasta / Sierra / Siskiyou / Solano / Sonoma / Stanislaus / Sutter / Tehama / Trinity / Tulare / Tuolumne / Ventura / Yolo / Yuba

States

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming