This 18-acre Sonoma Valley property was worth $14.75 million in 2020, surely playing its part in driving up total-real-estate values tallied recently by the Assessor's office. [Photo courtesy Sotheby's International Real Estate]
Total real-estate value in Sonoma County topped $120 billion this year—an all-time high, according to the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor’s office.
The number reflects the assessed value of all real and business property as of Jan. 1, 2024, which marked a 5.22% increase over last year’s assessment roll, reported county officials last week.
“(The increase) can be attributed to Sonoma County’s very strong residential market combined with the 2% increase to the Consumer Price Index,” officials said in an announcement.
The assessment data is used to calculate property tax revenue for public schools, community colleges, counties, cities, as well as public benefits and services. Approximately 50% of local property tax revenue goes toward public education, county officials said.
More than half of the total-value increase is down to progress the Assessor’s office has made in addressing its backlog of assessments piled up in recent years due to wildfires, the pandemic and statewide legislation changing certain property tax law.
Property owners who feel their assessed value is higher than the market value as of Jan. 1 are encouraged to file an Application of Change Assessment with the county clerk’s office by Nov. 30.
The 2024-25 assessed value notices are posted on the Assessor’s website at sonomacounty.ca.gov/assessor. For questions regarding property tax assessments, contact the Assessor’s office at 707-565-1888.
