Buncombe County 2026 Value Notice: Dates & Basics
As of February 18, 2026, Buncombe County began distributing 2026 reappraisal value notices to property owners. New assessed values are effective January 1, 2026. These notices are not tax bills.
Mailing Timeline Tightens
The mailing timeline runs from February 18 through the first week of March.
Notices cover all real property countywide.
The most recent general reappraisal was in 2021. The 2025 cycle was delayed after Tropical Storm Helene.
State law mandates reappraisals every eight years.
Notice Basics Under Pressure
Each notice lists an estimated market value as of January 1, 2026, plus calculation guidance and a value glossary.
It includes an appeal form, a QR code, MyValueBC access, and the online appeal site.
Informal appeals are accepted until April 7.
Formal appeals are accepted until May 5, using 828-250-4940 or realestate.questions@buncombenc.gov.
Why Did My Buncombe County Assessed Value Change?
Why a Buncombe County assessed value changed in 2026 generally traces to a countywide reappraisal that reset all parcels to fair market value as of January 1, 2026.
Notices mailed starting February 18, 2026, reflect market trends after the 2025 cycle was delayed by Hurricane Helene impacts.
Disruption From a Five Year Gap
The previous reappraisal finished in 2021, and appreciation and depreciation rates diverged across neighborhoods and property types.
State law requires periodic updates, and the reset targets equity and uniformity across 130,000 plus parcels.
How the Number Was Built
The assessment methodology relies on sales comparison using several years of transactions, guided by field visits and in office analysis.
Owner supplied details can shift adjustments when access is limited.
Because assessment-driven tax bills can change significantly, understanding relief tools like the Homeowners Exemption can help households manage the impact.
Will Buncombe County Taxes Go Up in 2026?
New 2026 assessed values are only half the equation, because the county tax rate has already moved higher.
Buncombe adopted 54.66 cents per $100 for FY2026, up from 51.76.
For context, Metro Denver development fees average about $68,000 on a new single-family detached home, showing how added charges can squeeze affordability.
Tax Bills Face Upward Pressure
A $350,000 home saw an estimated $215 increase under the adopted budget.
Median value near $328,900 implies about $2,012 before extra districts.
Disruption Factors In The Final 2026 Rate
Commissioners set the final rate in June 2026 after values effective January 1.
Needs for school funding and economic development compete inside a $433.1 million appropriation.
Key bill drivers
- County base rate plus Asheville local school district coverage.
- Fire protection and rescue districts add separate rates.
- Taxable base estimated at $52.9 billion.
- Collections assumed at 99 percent.
How Do I Appeal My Buncombe County Value Online?
How an online appeal is filed can determine whether a contested Buncombe County assessed value is reviewed in time for the 2026 cycle.
Mailed notices arriving mid-February through early March include a QR code that opens the online appeal form.
Portals at tax.buncombecounty.org and taxappeal.buncombenc.gov provide secure access to MyValueBC records.
Online Access Risks
Account creation on the county site lets owners save form progress and manage notification subscriptions.
The record review page shows parcel details needed to match the appeal to the correct property.
Informal Filing Deadline Shock
Informal appeals must be submitted within the stated window and remain open online until April 7, 2026.
An appraiser reviews submissions and comparable sales, then mails a decision letter.
Document upload can supplement later still.
Helene Damage, Exemptions, and Key Buncombe Deadlines
Although Buncombe County’s 2026 reappraisal targets market value as of January 1, 2026, Tropical Storm Helene damage remains a disruptive variable across the tax base.
Helene affected over 5,500 parcels, and prior adjustments already cover about 5,000 accounts within the 2026 file.
Staff continue tracking losses so damaged property is not assessed at full market value.
They use Damage Documentation from field visits and owners to support adjustments.
Attached mobile homes are real property, while unattached units are personal property.
Destroyed improvements may be recorded at no value under Exemption Eligibility.
Deadlines governing review and billing are compressed countywide now.
- Notices mail mid-February to early March 2026.
- Informal appeals open in March.
- Formal appeals end May 5.
- Tax rates set June; bills mail August.
Assessment
Buncombe County property owners are receiving 2026 value notices as assessed figures shift.
Some values are dropping, but tax bills depend on the 2026 tax rate set in the budget process.
The appeal window is short, and filings are expected to surge as owners compare notices to sales and condition.
Helene related damage documentation and eligibility for exemptions may affect outcomes in specific cases.
Missed deadlines can lock in disputed values for the tax year.
