Monterey County, CA Property Tax Appeals: Nov 30, 2026

Monterey County, California homeowners can appeal their 2026 assessed value by filing an Application for Changed Assessment with the Clerk of the Board in Salinas between July 2 and November 30, 2026. Mailed applications must be postmarked by November 30. Hand-delivered applications must reach 168 West Alisal Street, First Floor, by 5:00 p.m. on November 30. The processing fee is $40 per application.

Rules for the rest of California are in our California property tax appeal guide.

2026 deadline and where to file

Status as of October 10, 2026.

• Filing period for regular assessments (January 1, 2026 lien date): July 2 through November 30, 2026.
• Mailed: postmarked no later than November 30, 2026.
• Hand-delivered: received at the Clerk of the Board, 168 West Alisal Street, First Floor, Salinas, CA 93901, by 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2026.
• Fee: $40 non-refundable processing fee per application, one application per parcel. Check or money order payable to County of Monterey for mailed applications. The Clerk accepts cash, check or money order at the counter. A fee waiver request can be filed with the application if you qualify under Government Code section 68632.
• Supplemental and escaped assessments: within 60 days of the mailing date on the notice.

Monterey County's assessor page still carries an older note about a December 2 date for 2024. For 2026, the Clerk of the Board's page and the State Board of Equalization both give November 30.

How assessments work in Monterey County

California values property under Proposition 13. When a property is bought or newly built, the Assessor sets a base year value. After that, the taxable value can rise by the California Consumer Price Index, capped at 2 percent a year, until the next change in ownership or new construction. The Assessor is also required to compare that figure with current market value each year and assess the lower of the two.

That gives two kinds of appeal. A decline in value appeal says the market value of your home on January 1, 2026 is below the value on the roll. It applies only to the year you file, so you file again each year you disagree. A base year value appeal challenges the value set when you bought or built, and it is usually filed after a supplemental assessment notice. Your appeal must be based on market value on the lien date, January 1. Monterey County's Assessor describes the Assessment Appeals Board as three people appointed by the Board of Supervisors who weigh evidence from you and the Assessor at a formal hearing and then set a value.

Exemptions and their deadlines

• Homeowners' exemption: a $7,000 reduction in taxable value for an owner-occupied home that was your principal residence on January 1. File one claim (form BOE-266) with the county assessor. A first-time filer can file anytime after becoming eligible but no later than February 15 to receive the full exemption that year.
• Notify the Assessor if you stop qualifying. December 10 is the last day to end the exemption without penalty.

The next homeowners' exemption date is February 15, 2027.

How to appeal, step by step

1. Pull your assessment. Find your assessed value and your January 1, 2026 market value, and compare recent sales of similar homes near you. Check the record for square footage, bedrooms, baths and lot size.
2. Talk to the Assessor first. Monterey County's Assessor says differences of opinion that cannot be resolved in discussion with the Assessor's Office can be appealed to the Assessment Appeals Board. Start with a call to the Assessor.
3. Pay your tax bill on time. An appeal does not pause your tax bill. If the board lowers your value, you are refunded any overpayment. A late payment brings penalties and interest.
4. File the Application for Changed Assessment with the Monterey County Clerk of the Board (168 West Alisal Street, Salinas) by November 30, 2026, with the $40 fee. One application is needed for each parcel.
5. Prepare your evidence. Comparable sales, an appraisal, photos and repair estimates carry the most weight. The board only considers evidence presented at the hearing, and the hearing is a public meeting.
6. Attend your hearing. The Assessment Appeals Board can set a value higher or lower than either side proposed. If you disagree with the result, the State Board of Equalization's Publication 30 explains what comes next, including filing a claim for refund.

What property taxes cost in Monterey County

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020-2024 five-year estimates) puts the median real estate tax paid by Monterey County homeowners at $4,910 a year, against a median home value of $781,000. That is an effective rate of about 0.63% of home value (median tax divided by median value). It is a countywide figure: your own rate depends on your city, school district and special districts, so read the rate on your actual bill. About 68,993 homes in the county are owner-occupied. Source: Census Reporter, tables B25103 and B25077.

Check your value before you file

Start with the free Grove Hopper over-assessment check: enter your address and we compare your assessment to the data and tell you whether an appeal looks worth your time. If it does, we prepare your appeal documents. You review, sign and file them yourself with the Monterey County Clerk of the Board. We do not file for you or represent you, and we are not attorneys, accountants or a tax firm.

Contacts

• Monterey County Clerk of the Board (assessment appeals): 168 West Alisal Street, First Floor, Salinas, CA 93901 · P.O. Box 1728, Salinas, CA 93902-1728 · (831) 755-5066
• Monterey County Assessor: see the county Assessor page for the appraisal office numbers