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Sonoma County, California

575 Administration Drive
Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, California 95403

Tel: 707-565-2431
Fax: 707-565-3778

County Website: Sonoma county
Assessor Website: Sonoma county assessor

Sonoma County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions

If you disagree with your property tax assessment, you have the right to file an Assessment Appeal Application.
A valid and timely Assessment Appeal Application will be scheduled for a hearing before the Assessment Appeals Board.
You must file an application between July 2 and November 30 for regular assessment.
Download the Assessment Appeal Application and Instructions or request a copy from the Assessment Appeals Board: Assessment Appeals Board 575 Administration Drive, Suite 100-A Santa Rosa, California 95403 Phone: (707) 565-1561
You can also download a Sample Assessment Appeal Application. Please note that this sheet is an example of a completed form for one type of appeal only.
If you have questions about the Assessment Appeal Application form, please contact the State Board of Equalization, Assessment Services Unit at (916) 445-4982.
You will receive a notice approximately 45 days before your hearing date.
Enclosed with the notice will be a confirmation card asking that you confirm your appearance on the designated hearing date. You must return the confirmation card by the due date listed. Failure to do so may result in a denial of your appeal.

URLs

Due to recent years real estate market conditions, the board has received many appeals and is working on a backlog. While the backlog has been significantly reduced there is approximately a 6-12 month wait time for a hearing.

Here's how to lower your property taxes in Sonoma county

Contact the county assessor

Contact the Sonoma county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Sonoma 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. Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma county California tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.

About Sonoma County

Homes in Sonoma county have a median home value of $638,421.

Sonoma county home values are ranked 10 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, Sonoma county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~389%.

California Median Home Values by County

The median household income in Sonoma county is $86,173.

Compared to the state of California and the United States, Sonoma 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

Sonoma county's population has grown from 388,222 in 1990 to 488,863 in 2020, an increase of 26% 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.

Sonoma county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is less than the population change for California and the United States.

population

Sonoma County California Cities

Annapolis, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Camp Meeker, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Cotati, Duncans Mills, Eldridge, Forestville, Freestone, Fulton, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Graton, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Occidental, Penngrove, Petaluma, Rio Nido, Rohnert Park, Russian River Md, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Stewarts Point, The Sea Ranch, Valley Ford, Windsor

Sonoma County California Zipcodes

94922 / 94923 / 94928 / 94931 / 94951 / 94952 / 94954 / 94972 / 95401 / 95403 / 95404 / 95405 / 95407 / 95409 / 95412 / 95419 / 95421 / 95425 / 95430 / 95431 / 95436 / 95439 / 95441 / 95442 / 95444 / 95446 / 95448 / 95450 / 95452 / 95462 / 95465 / 95471 / 95472 / 95476 / 95480 / 95492 / 95497 /

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

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