Columbus Mayor Changes Property Assessment Rules for 2026 Homeowner Taxes

The Columbus Mayor's office released an ordinance update on July 7 that changes how the Franklin County Auditor calculates assessed values for residential properties in the 2026 tax year.

Local government officials initiated the review after market data showed uneven price shifts across city zip codes during the prior 18 months. The ordinance requires assessors to weight recent arm's-length sales more heavily when setting values for single-family homes and small multifamily buildings.

Changes for Columbus property owners

Residents will receive new assessed values with their tax statements scheduled for delivery in October. A homeowner whose property last sold in 2023 may now see the assessed value adjusted upward or downward depending on comparable sales recorded in the same census tract during 2025. Renters in buildings subject to the same assessment rules could face pass-through adjustments if landlords request rent increases tied to higher carrying costs.

The legislation states that appeals must be filed within 30 days of the notice date and will be heard by the county Board of Revision. City records show the auditor's office processed 4,200 residential appeals in the previous cycle.

Next steps in implementation

City staff will hold three public information sessions in August at the Columbus Main Library on Grant Avenue, the Linden Branch, and the Hilltop Branch to explain the calculation method. The government projects that final tax rates will be certified by the county in September, after which the city treasurer will begin collecting payments under the revised amounts.

Policy analysts note that the ordinance applies only to properties inside city limits and does not alter rates set by school districts or other overlapping jurisdictions.