Kitsap County, WA Property Tax Appeals: 60 Days or July 1

Kitsap County, Washington homeowners can appeal their valuation to the Kitsap County Board of Equalization within 60 days of the mailing date of the Change of Value Notice or by July 1 each year, whichever is later. The county's 2026 annual deadline was August 31, 2026, and has passed. The county also mailed 3,073 change-of-value notices dated October 12, 2026, which start a separate 60-day period for those parcels. Start by calling the Assessor at 360-337-5777.

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

2026 deadline and where to file

Status as of October 10, 2026.

• Rule: appeal within 60 days of the mailing date of your Change of Value Notice or by July 1 each year, whichever is later, per the Kitsap County Assessor.
• 2026 annual appeals: the Board of Equalization set August 31, 2026 for the 2026 assessment year. That date has passed.
• Change-of-value notices dated October 12, 2026: 3,073 notices for new construction or other changes were mailed October 9, 2026. The county says the October 12 date marks the start of the 60-day appeal period. That is December 11, 2026 by our count. Confirm the date on your own notice.
• If you did not receive a notice: a "Good Cause" waiver under WAC 458-14-056 is required with a petition filed after July 1.
• File with: Kitsap County Board of Equalization, 614 Division Street MS-4, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Questions: Clerk of the Board, 360-337-4424.

For the 2027 assessment year, expect notices around mid-year and check the Board's page when they arrive.

How assessments work in Kitsap County

Washington assesses real property at 100 percent of market value as of January 1 of the assessment year, and the Assessor's valuation is presumed correct. The burden of proof is on you. Kitsap County's Board of Equalization describes the standard as clear and convincing evidence that the value is wrong, and Thurston County uses the phrase "clear, cogent and convincing." The question for the Board is the market value of your property, not the size of your tax bill. Kitsap's board states there is no provision in state law to directly appeal the amount of your property taxes. Kitsap County's Assessor says state law requires adding all new construction to the tax roll based on its percentage of completion as of July 31 each year, and that a revised value will be used to calculate your 2027 property tax obligation.

Exemptions and their deadlines

• Senior citizen, disabled person and disabled veteran exemption: Kitsap County's details page lists age 61 by December 31 of the previous year, or disability, and a maximum household income of $65,000 for the 2026 taxes application. The value of your primary residence is frozen, and you become exempt from all excess and special levies and possibly regular levies. You need your prior year's income documents and a federal tax return if you file.
• Deferral programs: the senior and disabled deferral and the limited-income deferral (50 percent of taxes) postpone payment. A lien in favor of the state accrues with interest.
• Where to apply: online through the Assessor, assessor@kitsap.gov or 360-337-5777.

The Board of Equalization also hears denials of senior and disabled exemptions.

How to appeal, step by step

1. Pull your Value Notice and parcel record. Find your Change of Value Notice or your annual Notice of Value. Note the mailing date, which starts the 60 days.
2. Call the Assessor's office first. Call 360-337-5777 and discuss your concern with a county appraiser. The appraiser will examine your valuation and may begin a further review.
3. Gather evidence of market value on January 1. Comparable sales, sales of your property, contractor estimates for repairs, appraisals using local sales, and photos of conditions that lower value are the kinds of evidence the Kitsap board lists.
4. File the petition with the Board of Equalization. Ask the Clerk of the Board (360-337-4424) for the petition packet and file it by your deadline, including a copy of your notice. Mail to 614 Division Street MS-4, Port Orchard, WA 98366.
5. Attend the hearing. Hearings are scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as needed during tax season, by phone or in person at the Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division Street, 4th floor, Room 442.
6. If you disagree with the Board. You may appeal to the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals, which Kitsap County describes as also an informal process.

What property taxes cost in Kitsap County

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020-2024 five-year estimates) puts the median real estate tax paid by Kitsap County homeowners at $4,279 a year, against a median home value of $555,100. That is an effective rate of about 0.77% 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 76,121 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 Kitsap County Board of Equalization. We do not file for you or represent you, and we are not attorneys, accountants or a tax firm.

Contacts

• Kitsap County Assessor: 360-337-5777 · assessor@kitsap.gov
• Kitsap County Board of Equalization (Clerk): 614 Division Street MS-4, Port Orchard, WA 98366 · 360-337-4424