What is the property tax rate in Chesterfield County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Chesterfield County, Virginia is approximately 0.91%.

Chesterfield County Property Tax Calculator (2026)

Property Tax in Chesterfield County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Chesterfield-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Chesterfield County — including Virginia's 100% assessment ratio, the locality-set Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled (income-based), and the constitutional 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (passed by voters in 2010, effective Jan 2011).

Chesterfield County operates under Virginia's distinctive property tax structure. Virginia uses 100% assessment ratio (assessed at full fair market value) and each locality (county OR independent city) sets its own real estate tax rate. Virginia is unique among US states in having 38 independent cities that operate as both city and county for governance and tax purposes.

How the bill is built

Virginia's property tax calculation is straightforward. Step 1: Assessed Value. Chesterfield County Real Estate Assessor's Office reassesses your property at fair market value (some localities reassess annually, others biennially or longer). Step 2: Apply rate. Tax = AV × locality rate per $100. Chesterfield's combined rate is approximately $0.910 per $100 of AV. Total bill = (AV × rate) / 100. Step 3: Apply exemptions. Disabled veterans receive the full constitutional exemption (since 2011). Seniors and disabled residents may qualify for locality-set Real Estate Tax Relief programs.

Virginia's 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption is one of the most-comprehensive in the United States. Approved by Virginia voters in 2010 (Constitution of Virginia, Article X, Section 6-A) and effective January 2011, the exemption provides FULL exemption from real estate tax on the dwelling and surrounding land (typically up to 1 acre) for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA. Surviving spouses (unmarried) of 100% disabled veterans retain the exemption. Surviving spouses of US service members killed in action ALSO receive the full exemption regardless of veteran's disability status. No income limit applies.

Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled is locality-set. Each Virginia locality (county or independent city) sets its own income-based real estate tax relief program for residents 65+ and permanently disabled. Income limits and reduction percentages vary widely — Fairfax County provides up to 100% exemption with income under ~$72K; Henrico County provides up to 100% with income under ~$77K; Norfolk provides 25-100% sliding scale. Apply with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Real Estate Assessor.

Independent cities operate as both city and county. Virginia's 38 independent cities (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Richmond) handle their own assessment, tax collection, and local government services — they are not part of any county. This is unique to Virginia in the United States. The independent city structure means residents pay one combined real estate tax to the city (covering both city AND former-county-equivalent services).

2026 Chesterfield County rate breakdown (dollars per $100 of AV (100% assessment ratio), Chesterfield district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Chesterfield County General + Schools (~$0.91 / $100 AV)	0.9100
Combined total	0.9100

As of April 26, 2026 · From Chesterfield County Real Estate Assessor's Office.

Note: Chesterfield County, south of Richmond across the James River, is the largest county in the Richmond metropolitan area by population (380K) and one of the wealthiest counties in central Virginia. Anchored by the unincorporated community of Midlothian (a major suburban retail and residential corridor) and the older industrial communities of Chester and Bon Air, Chesterfield combines suburban subdivisions with substantial rural acreage in the western portion of the county.

Note: Chesterfield effective property tax rates run approximately 0.91% — modestly higher than neighboring Henrico (0.85%) but among the lowest rates in central Virginia. The Real Estate Tax Rate is ~$0.91 per $100 of AV. Chesterfield County Public Schools is one of the larger districts in Virginia and consistently rated above average. The county benefits from a substantial commercial and industrial tax base, including Capital One Headquarters, DuPont, and Phillip Morris/Altria operations.

Note: For relocation buyers: Chesterfield offers Richmond suburb living at slightly lower price points than Henrico. The Midlothian area (especially Brandermill and Hallsley) offers wealthy planned communities; the Chester area (in the eastern county, near I-95) offers lower prices and substantial industrial employment. The Chesterfield Real Estate Tax Relief Program for Elderly and Disabled provides locality-set income-based reductions for 65+ residents.

Tax relief and exemptions for 2026

Virginia's homeowner tax relief is unusual: there is no statewide homestead exemption (unlike most US states). Instead, each locality (county or independent city) sets its own income-based Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled program. The constitutional 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (since 2011) is statewide.

Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (constitutional)

Approved by Virginia voters in November 2010 (Constitution of Virginia, Article X, Section 6-A) and effective January 1, 2011, this is among the most-comprehensive disabled-veteran property tax exemptions in the United States. Veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA — including 100% individual unemployability ratings — receive full exemption from real estate tax on their primary residence (dwelling and surrounding land, typically up to 1 acre; localities can set higher limits). No income limit applies. Surviving spouses (unmarried) of 100% disabled veterans retain the exemption. Surviving spouses of US service members killed in action ALSO receive the full exemption, regardless of veteran's disability rating.

Apply with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Real Estate Assessor with VA documentation of disability rating. Application is typically a one-time process; the exemption renews automatically unless circumstances change.

Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled (locality-set)

Each Virginia locality sets its own income-based program for residents 65+ or permanently disabled. Income limits and reduction percentages vary widely:

Fairfax County: up to 100% exemption (income under ~$72K), sliding scale up to ~$100K
Arlington County: up to 100% (income under ~$99K)
Henrico County: up to 100% (income under ~$77K)
Norfolk: 25-100% sliding scale (income under ~$67K)
Virginia Beach: up to 100% (income under ~$80K)

Apply annually with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Assessor. Most localities require proof of age, income, and asset documentation.

Independent City structure

Virginia is unique among US states in having 38 independent cities that operate as both city and county for governance, assessment, and tax collection purposes. Independent cities (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Richmond among the largest) handle their own assessment and collect a single combined real estate tax — there is no separate "county" portion. This contrasts with most states where city residents pay both city and county property taxes. The independent city designation dates to 1871 and reflects Virginia's Reconstruction-era urban governance reforms.

Appealing your assessment

Virginia's appeal process runs through the local Board of Equalization (BOE) — each locality has its own. Homeowners file an Application for Review with the Chesterfield County Real Estate Assessor's Office typically within 30-90 days of receiving the annual reassessment notice (deadlines vary by locality). The BOE holds hearings during the assessment cycle — homeowners can present comparable sales, recent appraisals, or independent appraiser testimony. BOE decisions can be appealed to the local Circuit Court within 1 year. Some localities (including Fairfax) reassess annually; others reassess every 2-6 years.

Cities and towns in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Chesterfield to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Chesterfield County is subject to Chesterfield County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Chesterfield County seat	unincorporated	380,000
Chester	unincorporated	23,150
Bon Air	unincorporated	17,672
Midlothian	unincorporated	14,185
Brandermill	unincorporated	13,600
Hallsley	unincorporated	4,000

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Chesterfield tax district. Other cities in Chesterfield County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Chesterfield County Real Estate Assessor's Office before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Virginia property taxes due?

Virginia real estate taxes are typically billed semi-annually. Chesterfield County: due June 5 and December 5 typically — check your locality's specific schedule. Late payments incur a 10% penalty plus interest at 10% annual rate. Most localities offer escrow-via-mortgage payment processing automatically.

How do Virginia's independent cities differ from counties?

Virginia is unique among US states in having 38 independent cities that are not part of any county — these cities operate as both city AND county for tax, governance, and assessment purposes. Residents of independent cities pay one combined real estate tax to the city (not separate city + county taxes). The independent city designation dates to 1871 (Constitutional Convention) and reflects Virginia's Reconstruction-era urban governance reforms. The five largest Virginia independent cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, and Newport News.

How do I apply for the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption?

Virginia's 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (state constitutional, since January 2011) provides full exemption from real estate tax on the primary residence. Apply with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Real Estate Assessor with VA documentation showing 100% service-connected disability rating (including 100% individual unemployability ratings). No income limit applies. Surviving spouses (unmarried) of 100% disabled veterans retain the exemption. Surviving spouses of US service members killed in action ALSO receive the full exemption, regardless of veteran's disability status. Application is typically a one-time process; the exemption renews automatically.

How do I appeal my Virginia assessment?

File an Application for Review with the Chesterfield County Real Estate Assessor's Office typically within 30-90 days of receiving the annual reassessment notice (deadlines vary by locality). Most localities have a Board of Equalization (BOE) that holds hearings during the assessment cycle — homeowners can present comparable sales, recent appraisals, or independent appraiser testimony. BOE decisions can be appealed to the local Circuit Court within 1 year. Some localities (including Fairfax) reassess annually; others reassess every 2-6 years.

About Chesterfield County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Chesterfield County is home to the **Pocahontas State Park** — named for the Powhatan Confederacy princess Pocahontas (Matoaka, c. 1596-1617) who lived in the region during the early Jamestown era. The park's 7,950 acres include the original location where Pocahontas (then known as Matoaka) is said to have hunted and gathered with her father Chief Powhatan's people in the early 1600s. The park is one of Virginia's most-visited state parks and one of the largest state parks in the eastern United States.

Hometown hero

Henry "Box" Brown

The 19th-century abolitionist (1815/1816-1897) was born enslaved in Louisa County, Virginia and worked at a Richmond tobacco factory. In March 1849, with help from a free Black abolitionist and a sympathetic shoemaker, Brown shipped himself in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia (a 27-hour journey) to escape slavery — earning the nickname "Box" Brown. After arriving free in Philadelphia, Brown became one of the most-prominent abolitionist speakers in the United States and Britain. The historic site of Brown's tobacco factory employment is in Chesterfield County, near the James River.

Biggest annual event

Chesterfield County Fair + James River Park events

The Chesterfield County Fair (annual, late August/early September at the County Fairgrounds) is one of the larger county fairs in central Virginia, drawing approximately 100,000 attendees over its 9-day run. James River Park System events along the Chesterfield-Henrico-Richmond border (including the iconic Belle Isle, Pony Pasture, and the Hollywood Cemetery Civil War commemorations) draw substantial regional attendance throughout the year.

Property Tax in Chesterfield County, 2026