A modern building with extensive fire damage, with parts of the exterior collapsed and blackened from fire, and a person standing nearby on a grassy area.

What happens if my property is damaged or destroyed?

Washington has long agreed that property tax should not be due on property that cannot be used or accessed. Taxes are abated for any property that “is destroyed in whole or in part, or is in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the governor or the county legislative authority.”¹

A claim must be filed with the County Assessor. This claim attests your property has been “reduced in value by more than 20%.”² Single family homes are eligible for abatements for subsequent 2 years in addition but this claim must be submitted before June 30, 2026.

Contact us for assistance! Because the last thing you should worry about right now is your property tax bill.

Flooded street with submerged cars and houses made of brick and stone, around a few feet of water, in a residential area during rainy weather.

Flooded farmland with submerged buildings, including a red house and a wooden barn, amid leafless trees and a gray sky.