ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Property values across Maryland are rising again, with the state reporting an average increase of 12.7% in property tax assessments for 2026, according to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
SDAT has completed its 2026 “Group 2” reassessment, covering 789,178 residential and commercial properties statewide. Assessment notices for Group 2 properties were mailed Tuesday. All 23 counties and Baltimore City saw increases in property values, and 92.7% of Group 2 residential properties experienced an increase, the agency said.
Maryland has more than two million property accounts divided into three groups, each reassessed once every three years. The 2026 Group 2 reassessment was based on an evaluation of 57,543 property sales. Residential properties increased an average of 13.2%, while commercial properties rose 11% during the three-year reassessment period.
State officials emphasized that higher assessments do not automatically translate into equivalent increases in tax bills. Property taxes are calculated by applying local tax rates to a property’s taxable assessment, which may be limited by state and local caps. Any increase in assessed value will be phased in evenly over the next three tax years, while any decrease will take effect immediately in 2026.
Under Maryland law, increases in taxable assessments for owner-occupied homes are generally capped at 10% per year, with some local governments adopting lower limits.
The increase is most likely to affect owners of rental and investment properties, which do not qualify for homestead protections, as well as recent homebuyers, whose taxable assessments may reset closer to market value before caps apply. Final tax bills will also depend on local tax rate decisions made by counties and municipalities.
Though property values continue to rise, the pace of growth has slowed significantly. By comparison, statewide reassessments reflected increases of 20.1% last year and 23.4% in 2023.
“Property values are still rising, but at a more sustainable pace,” said SDAT Director Bob Yeager. “After the rapid increases seen during the post-COVID recovery, this moderation is an important step toward balancing household wealth growth with housing affordability.”
Eligible homeowners can apply for the Homestead Tax Credit, which limits annual increases in taxable value for owner-occupied homes. The Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit, based on income, is also available to qualifying households.
Additional information about reassessments, appeals, and property tax credits is available on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation’s website.
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How about instead of just posting a state need release, you explain ( via tax expert ) where the various groups are at, and in general how this will impact the residents of Southern Maryland?
tax tax tax. spend spend spend. this state is run by idiots.
Run by idiots in Annapolis and voted in by idiots in Balt.city, Montgomery, PG and Charles Counties. The rest of the state don’t matter.
Hey! Did everyone’s income increase by 12.7%? Didn’t think so. Property taxes are extortion upon the private citizen. If you can’t, or don’t, pay, the government will kick you out of your home and sell it to someone else. Those in government are criminals and thieves.
Ours went up 15%. Phase in is 5%, 4.8%, and 4.6%.
For a pensioner, that’s not fun.