North Carolina Counties Advance 2027 Property Revaluations Amid Shifting Tax Cycles

Key points

Wake County commissioners will vote on the 2027 revaluation schedule by October 19, following a public hearing on October 5 at the Wake County Justice Center.

The new Wake County values will reflect market conditions as of January 1, 2027, covering more than 460,000 residential and commercial properties.

Catawba County is reviewing proposed appraisal rules for its 2027 revaluation, with a public hearing scheduled for November 2 and potential adoption on November 16.

Wake County is transitioning from a four-year to a two-year revaluation cycle, a change approved in 2025 to better align with market shifts and reduce sudden tax spikes for residents.

State law requires revaluations at least every eight years, but both counties are adopting more frequent schedules to ensure assessed values remain closer to actual market values.

Background

Wake County previously conducted its last revaluation in 2024. In 2025, county leaders approved a shift from a four-year to a three-year, and eventually a two-year, revaluation cycle. This change follows a period where property valuations in Wake County increased by 51% between 2020 and 2024. The number of parcels evaluated in Wake County has roughly doubled since 2000, rising from approximately 230,000 to over 460,000. Catawba County is also moving forward with its own 2027 revaluation, which will appraise approximately 95,000 parcels at 100% of market value as of January 1, 2027.

How outlets are covering it

WRAL emphasizes the impact of Wake County’s new two-year revaluation cycle on property owners, highlighting that more frequent updates aim to prevent 'sticker shock' from large, sudden increases in assessed values. WRAL notes that Wake County’s current property tax rate is 53.71 cents per $100 of assessed value, and that revaluations update assessed values but do not change tax rates. WHKY focuses on Catawba County’s procedural steps, noting that the October 5 action begins the review process but does not adopt the schedule. WHKY clarifies that the revaluation establishes property values, while tax rates are set separately during the budget process. Both outlets agree that revaluations are required by state law and that the 2027 values will reflect market conditions as of January 1, 2027.

Why it matters

Property revaluations directly affect property tax bills for hundreds of thousands of residents in Wake and Catawba Counties. Wake County’s shift to a two-year cycle aims to create a more predictable and fairer tax system by ensuring assessed values closely align with market values, reducing the risk of large, unexpected tax increases. Catawba County’s revaluation will impact approximately 95,000 parcels, with the process including public hearings and potential appeals. Both counties are moving forward with revaluations to comply with state law and to ensure that property owners pay their fair share of taxes based on current market conditions.

What to watch

Wake County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the revaluation schedule by October 19, 2026. The revaluation results will be presented to the Board of Commissioners on January 19, 2027, and property owners will receive their updated assessed values by mail a few days later, along with information on how to file an appeal. Catawba County is scheduled to hold a public hearing on November 2, 2026, with possible adoption of the schedule on November 16, 2026. After 2027, Wake County plans to conduct revaluations every two years, beginning in 2029.