The 2026 BC Property Assessments are now available online through BC Assessment, and homeowners can now check theirs on the website and expect to receive their notices in the mail by the end of January 2026.  

"The softening housing market is being reflected in 2026 property assessments," says BC Assessment Assessor Bryan Murao. "Many homeowners throughout the Lower Mainland can expect some decreases in assessed value with most changes ranging between -10% to 0%." 

“Vancouver Island and the Southern Interior are generally flatter in value with changes ranging between -5% to +5% while the North and the Kootenays are varying more broadly in the -5% to +15% range," adds Murao. 

For the Lower Mainland, total assessments have decreased from about $2.01 trillion in 2025 to about $1.92 trillion this year. Almost $24 billion of the region's updated assessments is from new construction, subdivisions and the rezoning of properties.

The REALTOR® Role

REALTORS® are often a valuable source of information for both buyers and sellers in helping them understand tax assessments and how they are used to calculate property taxes.    

It is important to note that an increase in a property's assessment value does not necessarily mean an increase in property taxes for homeowners. In most cases, property taxes are only affected if a property's value is above the average value change for the community.  

If a property owner is still concerned about their assessment after speaking to a BC Assessment appraiser, they may submit a Notice of Complaint (Appeal) by Monday, February 2, 2026, for an independent review by a Property Assessment Review Panel.

For more information about assessments and trends in your area, visit BC Assessment. 

Managed Forest Land

BC Assessment has also issued an Important Notice to Purchasers of Private Managed Forest Land to make them aware of two aspects of tax law that have caused significant concerns for some purchasers:

1. Purchasers of managed forest land may be responsible for paying taxes on timber previously harvested by the Vendor; and,
2. Purchasers of managed forest land may be responsible for paying exit fees to the Managed Forest Council if the property is removed from managed forest class.

Prospective purchasers of privately managed forest land are advised to inquire about previous timber harvesting and its potential property tax implications. Exit fees may be incurred if the property is removed from managed forest land class before 15 years of enrollment.

For more information, visit the Managed Forest Council website, or contact BC Assessment at [email protected] or 1-866-valueBC (825-8322).

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