Board of Assessors

The Assessment Department's function is to establish fair and accurate values of all taxable real estate in Burlington, Vermont. The department is responsible for the administration of all laws and regulations regarding property tax assessments.

The assessed values are the basis for the distribution of the City's annual property tax levy. The Grand List Book is an inventory of approximately 10,167 taxable real estate parcels and 826 business personal property accounts. Property assessed values are based on an estimation of fair market value. The Assessment Department has guidelines for insuring fair tax assessments for all property owners throughout the City. The guidelines are as follows:

• Establish market value for all parcels throughout the City.
• Measure the relationship between the market and the current tax assessed value.
• Conduct property valuation tax appeals.

It is the policy of the City to conduct an interior and exterior inspection when visiting a property under review. A thorough property inspection is the fairest way to estimate the property’s value. A property review is warranted when a significant change has been made, the property recently transferred ownership, or during a City wide reappraisal.

Other activities of the Assessor's office include providing information to taxpayers, real estate appraisers, attorneys, brokers, and the public. This office handles appeals by aggrieved property owners, cooperates with other departments, assists with updating property tax maps, and completes reports required by the Vermont Department of Taxes.

The Grand List is an inventory of all the taxable real estate and business personal property accounts in the City. In addition to being available on this website, a hard copy is maintained in the Assessors office, and the Clerk/Treasurer's office.