Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector Department
This page answers frequently asked questions regarding reassessment for properties damaged by calamity.
If you have any questions not covered by the material here, please contact the tax collector's office at taxcollector@sonoma-county.org or by phone at (707) 565-2281 or the assessor's office at assessor@sonoma-county.org or by phone at (707) 565-1888.
The Assessor works with other county departments to identify all properties with over $10,000 in structural damage. The information obtained from other agencies will aid in applying property tax reductions on a mass appraisal basis. However, property owners must complete an Application for Reassessment of Property Damaged by Calamity and submit it to the County Assessor in order to receive property tax relief. You have 12 months to file this claim from the date of the event in order to be eligible.
Visit the Assessor's Disaster Relief Page for more information.
No. Property owners will retain their previous Factored Base Year Value if the house is rebuilt in a like or similar manner, regardless of the actual cost of construction. However, any new square footage or extras, such as additional bedrooms or bathrooms, will be added at its full market value to your Prop 13 Factored Base Year Value.
See the section titled Calculation of Calamity Rebuilds for Assessment Purpsoses on the Assessor's Disaster Relief Page for more information.
After you receive the “Notice of Correction to the 601 Assessment Roll” from the County Assessor informing you of the proposed reassessment, a new tax bill reflecting the reduction in value will be issued by the County Tax Collector within approximately 45 days of that notice.
Visit the Assessor's Disaster Relief Page for more information.
Yes. If your business personal property or vessel suffered damage of $10,000 or more, you are eligible for property tax relief. Please complete a Calamity Damage Reassessment Application for the Assessor’s office to review. Values for businesses and vessels are determined at Fair Market Value on January 1st annually. Please report asset values as of January 1st of the year prior to the calamity, and then submit a claim form recognizing the damage so that the Assessor can adjust the taxable value for the appropriate time period.
Visit the Assessor's Disaster Relief Page for more information.
Yes. Please contact your mortgage company immediately for guidance on how your lender will handle the payment of your property taxes and the subsequent revision to the balance due.
Delinquent property taxes relate to property taxes that were incurred before the calamity, therefore they will not change and must be paid. Please contact the Tax Collector’s Office for payment plan options or review our section on Installment Plans for more information.
Yes. Please contact the ACTTC at (707) 565-2281 or taxcollector@sonoma-county.org if you have mailed a payment and have elected to defer your secured tax payment on the Assessor’s Calamity Damage Reassessment application.
No. There is no provision to extend property tax dues dates or waive penalties for property affected by the calamity. However, if you believe that your property may qualify for reassessment due to damage sustained during a calamity, please file a Calamity Damage Reassessment Application with the Sonoma County Assessor’s Office as soon as possible.
Low income senior citizens, blind or disabled property owners may be eligible for
the State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement Program. Please contact the State Controller at (800) 952-5661 or by email at postponement@sco.ca.gov.
Yes. You should consider paying off the SCEIP lien with proceeds from your insurance claim. Make sure your insurance company itemizes the loss of your SCEIP improvements separately, so you can account for that loss.
Please contact the State Controller Property Tax Postponement office at: (800) 952-5661, or email postponement@sco.ca.gov.
Please contact the State Controller Property Tax Postponement office at: (800) 952-5661, or email postponement@sco.ca.gov.
The Assessor maintains building sketches for most properties. If you are the property owner, or an authorized agent, who has completed our Authorization to Access Confidential Files Form, you may be able to get a copy of that document.