Property Taxes and Assessments

2021 Home Owner Grants/Property Information

2021 Tax Rates  2021 Property Tax Insert  Access to online tax accounts

Moving?

My Property Assessment Went Up.  How Does This Affect My Property Taxes?

The value of your property is assessed by the B.C. Assessment Authority yearly.  

Each January, BC Assessment Authority mails property assessment notices to the owners of 2+ million properties in the province. The notice contains your assessed value, which is the estimated market value of your property as of July 1st of the previous year, the property classification, and tax exemption status. 

In Ladysmith, residential property assessments rose by 7% for 2021, with the average single-family home assessed at $476,000. However, this does not mean that your property tax will automatically increase.  Here is how to tell if you property taxes will go up:  if your assessment has increased more than the average assessment increase in your property class, then it is likely you will see a higher tax increase.  The diagram below is taken from the BC Assessment website. 

**The diagram above assumes that there are no changes in the budgetary requirements of your taxing authority and/or any other taxing agency (from BC Assessment).

If you disagree with your property tax assessment, you must file an appeal with BC Assessment by January 31.  You can call 1-866-825-8322, or complete the form at the following link, which also gives full information about the appeal process:

https://info.bcassessment.ca/Services-products/appeals

Questions relating to your property assessment should be referred to the B.C. Assessment Authority in Nanaimo (#300 - 125 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B2) at 1.800.977.2775 or 250.753.6621.  For more information on the B.C. Assessment Authority, visit the BC Assessment  website.

Property taxation is the most important single source of municipal revenue. The value of your property, as assessed by the B.C. Assessment Authority, is multiplied by the tax rates as set out by each of the taxing jurisdictions to determine your property taxes.

If you have questions regarding property taxes, please contact the Financial Services Department at 250.245.6414, ext 6206 or email pt@ladysmith.ca.  

Property Tax Payment Options:

• electronically at participating financial institutions;
• in person at City Hall (cash, cheque or Interac);
• at most financial institutions in Canada or;
• by mail.  Please Note: Postmarks are NOT accepted as date of payment.

If you have any questions regarding your Tax Notice, please contact City Hall at 250.245.6400.

Online Credit Card Payment

You can make a payment through OptionPay which is a third-party credit card services.  There is an ADDITIONAL third-party fee which will be charged to your credit card.