Buncombe Reappraisal Could Shift Property Tax Burden to Homeowners

A sampling of parcel data from Buncombe County's 2026 reappraisal shows assessed values climbing for many single-family homeowners while declining for several large commercial properties, including hospitals and major estates, a divergence that could move a greater share of the county's property tax burden onto residential owners unless commissioners act during this spring's budget deliberations.

AVL Watchdog reviewed dozens of parcels across the countywide reappraisal and published its findings March 27, concluding that the gap between rising residential values and falling commercial values would redistribute how much each property class contributes to Buncombe's total tax base. Hospitals, large estates and other commercial entities stood among those whose assessed values declined relative to the county total, while typical single-family homes in many neighborhoods moved in the opposite direction.

The reappraisal is countywide, affecting every property owner in Asheville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Woodfin and all other municipalities within Buncombe's lines. Notices went out starting in mid-February. The county has been clear that the reappraisal establishes market-value assessments and does not itself set tax rates; that decision belongs to the Board of County Commissioners, who will address rates during the annual budget process.

That distinction carries direct financial weight. If commissioners hold the tax rate steady while residential assessments climb, many homeowners will face higher annual bills. Reducing the rate to offset those increases would soften the impact but could reduce revenue available for county services. For residents on fixed incomes, the stakes are particularly high.

Property owners who received notices can contest values through the county's Board of Equalization, the formal venue for challenging assessments. Buncombe County posted a full timeline, appeal procedures and clinic schedules through its MyValueBC pages and Tax Department, and appeal deadlines are firm. Owners should compare their notice against comparable sales data before requesting a hearing.

Those who qualify for senior or disability exemptions should confirm whether those programs apply to their parcel, since relief designations can offset increases in taxable value. The Tax Department handles both appeals and exemption inquiries.

The commissioners' response during spring budget hearings will determine how much of the projected shift ultimately reaches individual tax bills across the county.