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County No. 013 of 13 Revised April 2026
Virginia · Reading time · 9 min
Hanover County · Virginia

Property Tax in Hanover County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Mechanicsville-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Hanover 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).

Median Effective Rate
0.76%
tax bill ÷ market value
Median Home Value
$380,000
single-family, 2026
Typical Annual Bill
$2,888
rate per $100 × AV (100% assessment, locality-set rate)
Assessor
Hanover Co. Assessor
(804) 365-6029
Thinking of moving? Compare Hanover County side-by-side with any other county we cover.
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Hanover 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. Hanover County Real Estate Assessor 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. Hanover's combined rate is approximately $0.755 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 Hanover County rate breakdown (dollars per $100 of AV (100% assessment ratio), Hanover district)

Taxing entityRate
Hanover County General0.7550
Town of Ashland (typical add-on)0.1100
Combined total0.8650

As of April 28, 2026 · From Hanover County Real Estate Assessor.

Note: Hanover County is the northern Richmond metropolitan suburb — Mechanicsville (the largest CDP) and Ashland (the only incorporated town, home of Randolph-Macon College) anchor the population. Major employers include Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center, Hanover County Public Schools, the Kings Dominion theme park (Doswell), and substantial Richmond-metro commuter employment via I-95.
Note: Hanover's combined county mill rate runs ~$0.755/$100 AV — producing typical effective rates around 0.76% on full market value, among the lower in the Richmond metro. The substantial Kings Dominion commercial property + Bear Island Paper Mill (one of the largest US recycled-paper mills) + Memorial Regional commercial property tax base supplements residential. Virginia uses 100% AR.
Note: Hanover County is the historical home of Patrick Henry (the "Give me liberty or give me death!" orator) — his Scotchtown plantation and the Hanover Tavern (where he practiced law early in his career) are preserved historic sites. The county is also famous for Hanover tomatoes — a regional variety so distinctive that "Hanover tomato" is essentially a Virginia-wide brand. The Hanover Tomato Festival (July) draws regional attention.

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 Hanover County Real Estate Assessor 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 Hanover County

Hanover County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Hanover 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 Hanover County is subject to Hanover County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town Type Population (2020)
Mechanicsville Census-designated place 37,000
Glen Allen Split Census-designated place 14,500
Ashland town 7,700
Hanover County seat Census-designated place 600
Beaverdam unincorporated 200
Doswell Census-designated place 100

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Hanover tax district. Other cities in Hanover 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 Hanover County Real Estate Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Compare with neighboring counties
Henrico
0.85% effective
Glen Allen, Short Pump
Chesterfield
0.89% effective
Midlothian

Frequently asked questions

When are Virginia property taxes due?

Virginia real estate taxes are typically billed semi-annually. Hanover 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 Hanover County Real Estate Assessor 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 Hanover County

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

Weird fact
Kings Dominion theme park (in Doswell, Hanover County) opened in 1975 and contains a 1/3-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower — at 315 feet tall, it's the third-tallest structure in Hanover County. The original Kings Dominion Eiffel Tower replica was a major 1970s tourist attraction; visitors could ride elevators to an observation deck. It's still operational today and remains the park's tallest structure.
Hometown hero
Patrick Henry
Founding Father, first Governor of Virginia (1776-1779, 1784-1786), and one of the most celebrated orators of the American Revolution ("Give me liberty, or give me death!" — delivered at St. John's Church in Richmond on March 23, 1775). Born and raised in Hanover County; practiced law at the Hanover Tavern. His Scotchtown plantation in Hanover is a National Historic Landmark.
Biggest annual event
Hanover Tomato Festival
Annual July festival in Mechanicsville celebrating the region's celebrated Hanover tomatoes — a regional variety with a distinctive sweet-acid balance prized by Virginia chefs. Running since 1977, draws ~30,000 attendees with tomato sandwiches, salsa contests, and the celebrated Tomato Recipe Cook-Off. Has been featured on Food Network and the Travel Channel.

About this site's data and estimates. The Property Tax Almanac is an independent editorial reference. It is not affiliated with any government agency, tax assessor, or tax preparation service. The calculators and data on this site are informational and are not a substitute for advice from a qualified tax professional, attorney, or your official county assessor or appraisal district.

Accuracy, sources, and scope. Tax rate data is compiled from publicly available sources — including the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Florida Department of Revenue, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, the Arizona Department of Revenue, the North Carolina Department of Revenue, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the Michigan Department of Treasury, the Iowa Department of Revenue and Iowa Department of Management, the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the California State Board of Equalization, individual county appraisal and assessor offices, and the US Census Bureau — and is believed to be accurate as of the "revised" date shown on each page. Rates change annually (and sometimes mid-year) through local budget adoptions, legislative action, and voter-approved measures. Rates displayed reflect the primary tax district of the county seat; rates in other cities, school districts, Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), Emergency Services Districts (ESDs), Mello-Roos Community Facilities Districts (CFDs), and special taxing units within the same county may be meaningfully higher or lower. Census population figures are from the 2020 Decennial Census and are rounded to the nearest 100.

How to use these estimates. The calculator produces a rough estimate based on the county seat's combined rate, statutory deductions and exemptions available statewide, and the value you enter. Your actual bill depends on your specific parcel's assessed or appraised value, the exact taxing entities covering your address, any local-option exemptions you qualify for, any assessment caps or circuit-breaker protections (e.g., Florida's Save Our Homes, Arizona's Prop 117 LPV cap, Indiana's 1% circuit breaker, North Carolina's Elderly/Disabled Exclusion, Wisconsin's Lottery & Gaming Credit, Michigan's Proposal A 5%/IRM cap, Iowa's residential rollback, Minnesota's Homestead Market Value Exclusion, California's Proposition 13 acquisition-value system and 2% annual cap), and any appeal or protest outcomes. For an authoritative figure, consult your county appraisal district (Texas), county assessor (Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Arizona, North Carolina, Iowa, Minnesota, California), county property appraiser (Florida), or municipal/township assessor (Wisconsin and Michigan — assessments are set at the city/village/township level rather than the county level; some Iowa and Minnesota cities also have city-level assessors). The contact information for the primary authority in each county is listed at the top of that county's page.

No legal or tax advice; no warranty. Nothing on this site constitutes legal, tax, financial, investment, or real estate advice. The Property Tax Almanac, its authors, and its publisher make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the content on this site. Any reliance you place on the information is strictly at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage — including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage — arising from the use of this site or from decisions made based on its content.

Found an error? Property tax rules are complex and change often. If you spot an inaccuracy, please contact us — corrections help every reader who comes after you.

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