Property tax in Chesapeake city, Virginia

Who sends the property tax bill in Chesapeake city, and how do you pay it?

The bill comes from the City of Chesapeake Treasurer's Office. The value it is based on is set by a separate office, the City of Chesapeake Real Estate Assessor's Office, which is who to ask if the value looks wrong. For how to look up and pay the bill, go to the county's own payment information.

Chesapeake is an independent city, so there is no separate county bill: the city values the home, bills it and collects it. Real estate tax is paid in four quarterly installments over a fiscal year that starts July 1, based on the assessment as of January 1 of the same calendar year; owners whose value changed are mailed a notice by March 1. New construction, additions and demolitions are billed on supplemental bills during the year. Stormwater fees are billed separately, half due June 5 and half December 31. The tax relief program is run by the Commissioner of the Revenue, not the Treasurer. An owner who disagrees with the Board of Equalization can also apply to the Chesapeake Circuit Court, within three years after the end of the tax year or one year from the assessment, whichever is later. Card payments online carry a 2.4% convenience fee (2.2% in the office); e-check payments are free. The Treasurer is moving to a new tax system and payment portal in fall 2026, and since September 1, 2026 scheduled e-check payments and payment plans can be set up only 30 days ahead.

When are property taxes due in Chesapeake city?

For the Fiscal Year 2026 to 2027 bill, Chesapeake city splits the bill into 4 payments, the first due September 30, 2026 and the last June 5, 2027. The next one due is the second quarter, on December 31, 2026. Payment must be received by the Treasurer's Office or postmarked by the due date. An installment not paid in full by then is charged a one-time penalty of 10% of the unpaid installment (or $10 if that is more, but never more than the tax due), and the installment and penalty then bear interest of 10% a year from the due date until paid. Real estate with taxes still unpaid on December 31 after the first anniversary of the due date can be sold for the delinquent taxes.

From Chesapeake city's published schedule, checked September 23, 2026. If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the county's own rules on the next business day apply.

Estimate the property tax on a home in Chesapeake city

Enter a home's market value for a ballpark at Chesapeake city's average effective rate of 0.82% (Census). The real bill depends on the home's assessed value, the millage where it sits and any exemptions.

Property tax in Chesapeake city at a glance

Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

How does Chesapeake city compare in Virginia?

Among Virginia's 133 counties, Chesapeake city has the 23rd highest effective property-tax rate: 22 rank higher and 110 rank lower. That is on the higher side for Virginia. Nationally, it ranks 1541st of 3135 US counties by effective rate. See every Virginia county ranked.

How much do homeowners in Chesapeake city actually pay?

The median is only the middle bill. Across Chesapeake city's 69,615 owner-occupied homes, 48.8% pay $3,000 or more a year in property tax, 69.9% pay at least $2,000, and 7.7% pay under $800. Another 6.4% report paying no property tax at all, which usually means an exemption covers the whole bill.

Owners with a mortgage pay a median of $3,086 and owners without one pay $3,183. That is within 10% either way, so in Chesapeake city paying off the house does not go with a noticeably different bill. Census table B25103.

How does the Chesapeake city property tax bill compare with local incomes?

The median property tax bill of $3,108 is about 2.7% of the median income of Chesapeake city homeowner households, $115,026 a year. That compares two middles, so a retiree in a long-held home can pay a far larger share. 74.4% of Chesapeake city's occupied homes are lived in by their owners; renters pay property tax too, just folded into rent.

Have property taxes gone up in Chesapeake city?

Yes. The median bill went from $2,617 in 2015-2019 to $3,108 in 2020-2024, a 18.8% rise. Over the same span the median home value moved 38.3%, from $273,700 to $378,400. Bills rose more slowly than values, which is what assessment caps and falling millage rates do: the county is taxing a smaller share of each home's worth.

Two Census ACS 5-year periods with no survey years in common, in each period's own dollars. A change counts only if it exceeds the combined 90% margin of error.

Property tax in counties next to Chesapeake city

Chesapeake city borders 6 counties, 2 of them across the state line.

How is a home assessed in Chesapeake city?

Virginia assesses homes at 100% of market value in every county, Chesapeake city included. How Virginia assesses and reappraises homes.

Is there a homestead exemption in Chesapeake city?

No. Virginia has no general homestead exemption; relief is limited to the elderly and disabled, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of service members and first responders killed in the line of duty. That is the Virginia rule, and it applies in Chesapeake city. Virginia's exemptions and relief programs in full.

On top of the Virginia programs, Chesapeake city runs its own:

• Real Estate Tax Relief for the elderly and disabled: For owner-occupants aged 65 or older by June 30 before the tax year, or permanently and totally disabled at any age, whose combined household income is $70,000 or less and whose net worth is $350,000 or less (not counting the home and up to three acres); it relieves 100% of the real estate tax for income up to $25,000, 75% up to $36,000, 50% up to $53,000 and 25% up to $70,000, and must be applied for again every year, in person by appointment between January 1 and May 15. Apply by May 15.

How to appeal your Chesapeake city property assessment

In Chesapeake city you appeal to the Chesapeake Board of Equalization of Real Estate Assessments. The deadline: Applications to the Board of Equalization are accepted from March 1 to April 1 each year: postmarked by April 1 if mailed, or delivered by 5:00 p.m. on April 1 by hand. Late applications are not accepted, and all supporting documents must be filed with the application. The Board hears appeals in May and decides them all by May 31. The 2026 window has closed; the next one runs March 1 to April 1, 2027, for values taking effect July 1, 2027. The Assessor's Office also reviews assessments informally at any time of year. How to file. Checked September 23, 2026 against the official appeal rules.

How Virginia's appeal process works, including the next level if the first one turns you down.

Virginia rules from primary state sources, reviewed September 7, 2026; sources on the Virginia page.

Work out your own numbers

• How much house can I afford?

  Your income, debts and down payment against the 28/36 rule lenders actually use, with Chesapeake city's tax rate to hand.

• Mortgage calculator

  Monthly payment with principal, interest, tax and insurance, plus what an extra payment saves you.

• Virginia income tax

  Brackets, standard deduction and what Virginia actually taxes.

• Sales tax in Chesapeake city

  The other local tax: combined state and local rate for this county.