Mobile County Property Tax: Rates, Exemptions & Appeals (2026)

For tax year 2026, the Mobile County Board of Equalization appeal deadline was May 19, 2026. File value protests with the Mobile County Board of Equalization, not the Revenue Commissioner: email a signed scan to carol.gobin@mobilecountyal.gov, or mail/hand-deliver it to 3925 Michael Blvd., Suite H, Mobile, AL 36609.

As of September 5, 2026, the 2026 filing window has passed. The next regular residential value protest deadline has not been posted yet; Alabama’s rule is that valuation protests are due within 30 days after the valuation notice date, and Mobile County publishes the concrete date each year.

How assessments work in Mobile County

Mobile County’s 2026 values are based on the county’s tax-year cycle, not the calendar year. For tax year 2026, the assessing time frame is October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, and the lien date is October 1, 2025. The owner of record on that lien date is the person or entity allowed to file the 2026 objection to value.

The Mobile County Revenue Commission appraises real property at fair market value. Its own explanation defines that as the amount the property could bring on the open market in an arm’s-length sale between a willing buyer and seller. Appraisals use area sales, value attributable to improvements, property-record data, and Alabama Department of Revenue guidelines. Each parcel is supposed to be individually appraised and described on a property record card.

For most homeowners, the key classification is Class III: owner-occupied, non-rental residential property is assessed at 10% of fair market value. Vacant land or non-owner-occupied property is generally Class II and assessed at 20%. Your tax bill is calculated from assessed value, less exemptions, multiplied by the millage rate for your location.

Mobile County’s 2026-style local rates vary by municipality. The Revenue Commission lists total millage of 63.5 mills in the City of Mobile, 61.5 in Prichard, 59.5 in Saraland, 61.0 in Satsuma, 56.5 in Chickasaw, 54.5 in Citronelle, 53.5 in Bayou La Batre/Dauphin Island/Creola, 53.0 in Mt. Vernon, and 48.5 for county/other areas. Property taxes are due each October 1 and become delinquent after December 31.

A newer Alabama rule also matters: Act 2024-344 caps annual increases in taxable assessed value for eligible Class II and Class III real property at 7%, beginning with collections on October 1, 2025 and continuing through the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2027. The cap does not stop you from appealing fair market value, and the Board of Equalization still decides market-value disputes. It also has exceptions, including ownership changes, classification changes, new improvements, significant improvements, and tax-increment districts.

Whether you should appeal

Appeal if the county’s fair market value is higher than what the property was likely worth during Mobile County’s relevant assessing window. For 2026, that means evidence tied to October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. The Board says foreclosures and short sales cannot be considered, so your best evidence is ordinary arm’s-length comparable sales, a private appraisal done in the assessing time frame, interior photos showing adverse conditions, repair estimates, engineering or soil/water reports, or documentation of renovations that the county may have overvalued.

Do not use the Board of Equalization to argue that your tax bill is unaffordable, that your exemption is missing, or that your millage rate is wrong. Mobile County’s BOE states that it reviews fair market value only. Exemption questions go to the Revenue Commissioner.

Be realistic about savings. A City of Mobile owner-occupied home with a county value of $300,000 has a Class III assessed value of $30,000 before exemptions. At 63.5 mills, that produces about $1,905 before homestead deductions or special fees. If you prove the market value should be $275,000, the assessed value becomes $27,500, and tax before exemptions becomes about $1,746.25. Estimated annual savings: $158.75. The same $25,000 reduction in an unincorporated/county-other area at 48.5 mills saves about $121.25. If a 7% cap or exemption already keeps taxable assessed value below true assessed value, a value win may not fully show up in the current bill, but it can still matter for future years.

Mobile County does not publish an official appeal success rate or median reduction in the materials reviewed. The county does publish BOE hearing agendas and dockets, but those are not a usable countywide success-rate dataset.

Step-by-step how to file

1. Look up your parcel. Use the Mobile County Revenue Commission property search to confirm your key number, parcel/account number, owner name, mailing address, class, appraised value, assessed value, exemptions shown, and taxing jurisdiction.

2. Use the correct form. The official form is “2026 Request for Reappraisal” from the Mobile County Board of Equalization. Mobile County also says you may submit a written letter instead, but it must include the correct key number, complete parcel identification number, owner name and mailing address, telephone number, usable email address, and the objection to value. File a separate protest form for each parcel.

3. State your value. The 2026 form asks for the owner’s opinion of value as of October 1, 2025. Put a specific dollar amount, not just “too high.”

4. Attach evidence now. Mobile County is explicit: all supporting documents must be submitted with the appeal and will not be returned. Include comparable sales, a time-relevant appraisal, photos, repair documentation, or other proof.

5. Sign it. The BOE requires an original signature. If filing by email, the county’s form says to fill in, print, sign, scan, and email.

6. Send it to the BOE only. Email: carol.gobin@mobilecountyal.gov. Mail or hand delivery: Mobile County Board of Equalization, 3925 Michael Blvd., Suite H, Mobile, AL 36609. Do not send it to the Revenue Commission office; the BOE warns that doing so may cause the appeal to miss the deadline. Phone and fax protests are not accepted. No filing fee is listed on the official form or BOE instructions.

7. If an agent files for you, add authorization. Use the 2026 Letter of Authorization. It must be for the current protest tax year and identify the owner, agent, key number, and parcel.

What happens after

After a formal protest, a Mobile County Revenue Commission appraiser is assigned to review the property and check for errors. The county describes this as a field audit and review. The appraiser reports findings to the Board.

If the review produces an adjusted fair market value, you receive that value by mail. If you agree, mark the notice approved and return it to the Board; the adjusted value is then reflected on the next tax notice. That is the practical non-oral route.

If you disagree, return the notice marked disapproved. The Board of Equalization then notifies you of a hearing date. At the hearing, you appear before board members and explain why the county’s fair market value is wrong. The BOE may lower the value, leave it unchanged, or increase it. The Board’s decision is effective for that tax year only.

Alabama law requires the Board secretary to mail notice of the Board’s decision after the hearing work is completed. If you still disagree, you may appeal to Circuit Court, but Mobile County warns that to preserve that right you must pay the property tax by the December 31 deadline or file a supersedeas bond equal to double the outstanding tax amount.

Local tips

Check exemptions before you spend energy on a value appeal. The standard Mobile County homestead exemption is for a single-family, owner-occupied primary residence and land up to 160 acres. It can deduct up to $4,000 of assessed value for state taxes and up to $2,000 of assessed value for county taxes. It does not automatically transfer to a new owner.

If you are 65 or older, totally and permanently disabled, or blind, review the special exemptions. Mobile County lists H2 and H3 senior exemptions tied to income limits, including a full exemption for qualifying age/income applicants and a partial exemption covering all state taxes and up to $5,000 of county taxes. These special exemptions generally require annual renewal by December 31.

Also verify your classification. If your primary residence is showing as Class II instead of Class III, that can double the assessment percentage from 10% to 20%. That is a classification/exemption issue for the Revenue Commissioner, not a BOE market-value appeal.

Finally, do not ignore tax due dates while appealing. Mobile County tax bills are due October 1 and delinquent after December 31. An appeal over value does not make the bill disappear, and missing the payment deadline can create penalties, interest, and problems if you later try to continue to court.

Mobile County Property Tax Rate

Current total millage varies by taxing jurisdiction. Mobile County/unincorporated base: 48.5 mills; Prichard: 61.5; Citronelle: 54.5; Chickasaw: 56.5; City of Mobile: 63.5; Bayou La Batre: 53.5; Saraland: 59.5; Satsuma: 61.0; Dauphin Island: 53.5; Mt. Vernon: 53.0; Creola: 53.5. For owner-occupied residential Class III property, Alabama assesses at 10% of appraised value, so 48.5 mills is about 0.485% of appraised value before exemptions/fees, and City of Mobile 63.5 mills is about 0.635% before exemptions/fees.

Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/general-questions/

When Are Property Taxes Due in Mobile County?

Property taxes are due each October 1 and become delinquent after December 31; mailed payments postmarked on or before December 31 are not penalized.

This is not the same as the assessment appeal deadline above. The appeal deadline is your window to contest your assessed value; the payment due date is when the resulting tax bill must be paid. Missing one does not affect the other, but missing either has real consequences — one forfeits your right to appeal for the year, the other can trigger penalties and interest.

Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/general-questions/

Property Tax Exemptions in Mobile County

• Standard Homestead Exemption / H1 — Owner-occupants of a single-family residence, including qualifying owner-occupied manufactured homes on land owned by the manufactured-home owner; homestead land is limited to 160 acres, and Alabama allows only one homestead exemption per homeowner.. Up to $4,000 of assessed value exempt from state property taxes and up to $2,000 of assessed value exempt from county property taxes. Yes, application required; Mobile County says the standard exemption does not require annual renewal but is non-transferable, so a new owner must apply. Apply by Claim applicable exemptions by December 31 for property purchased on or before October 1.. (Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/homestead-exemption/)
• H4 Homestead — Age 65 or Older, Income Above $12,000 — Taxpayer age 65 or older with income greater than $12,000 on the most recent Alabama income tax return; must claim on a qualifying homestead/principal residence through the county office.. Exempt from all state ad valorem property taxes and receives the regular homestead exemption of $2,000 assessed value on county taxes. Yes, apply through the county Revenue Commission/local county office. Apply by Claim applicable exemptions by December 31 for property purchased on or before October 1.. (Source: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/homestead-exemptions/)
• H2 Homestead — Age/Income Partial Exemption — Property owner age 65 or older, owning and occupying the property as the primary residence, with Alabama adjusted gross income not exceeding $12,000 on the state income tax return.. Exempts all state property taxes and up to $5,000 of assessed value on the county portion, including school district ad valorem taxes; Mobile County notes the owner may still receive a partial bill depending on property value. Yes, apply in the Revenue Commission office; annual renewal/reclaim is required. Apply by Annual renewal/reclaim due no later than December 31; any partial bill is also due no later than December 31.. (Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/exemption-questions/)
• H3 Homestead — Age/Income Full Exemption — Property owner age 65 or older, owning and occupying the property as the primary residence, with combined federal taxable income not exceeding $12,000; proof of age and federal income tax return required.. Full exemption: Mobile County states the property owner pays no taxes under H3. Yes, apply in the Revenue Commission office; annual renewal/reclaim is required. Apply by Annual renewal/reclaim due no later than December 31.. (Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/exemption-questions/)
• H3 Homestead — Permanent and Total Disability Full Exemption — Individuals retired due to being totally and permanently disabled, with required disability proof such as qualifying Social Security retirement disability documentation plus physician affidavit, qualifying pension/annuity disability documentation, or physician letters, as described by Mobile County.. Full H3 disability exemption from all ad valorem taxes; no income limitation under the Alabama Department of Revenue H3 disabled homestead type. Yes, apply in the Revenue Commission office; annual renewal/reclaim is required. Apply by Annual renewal/reclaim due no later than December 31.. (Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/exemption-questions/)
• Blind Homestead Partial Exemption — Blind homeowners regardless of age; Mobile County requires a letter from a duly licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist stating vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses, plus signed assessment and proof of eligibility.. Reduced tax bill; Alabama Department of Revenue lists blind homestead exemption as exempt from all state property taxes and a county homestead limitation up to $5,000 assessed value with county school tax not collected. Yes, apply in the Revenue Commission office; annual renewal/reclaim is required. Apply by Annual renewal/reclaim due no later than December 31.. (Source: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/exemption-questions/)

How to Look Up Your Property Record in Mobile County

You can look up your property's official record at https://esearch.mobilecopropertytax.com/. The official Mobile County Revenue Commission property search shows appraisal/assessment records such as property values, assessed value, taxing jurisdiction and millage, estimated taxes with exemptions, fees, and land/improvement details.