Delta homeowners can expect to receive their annual property assessments from BC Assessment in January. These notices will reflect the market value of properties as of July 1, 2025. This comes as Delta council has given preliminary approval to a budget that includes a 2.9 per cent property tax increase and a 3.2 per cent utility bill hike for the average home.
Key Takeaways
- Property assessments reflecting July 1, 2025, market values will be issued by BC Assessment starting January 2.
- Delta council has approved a preliminary budget with a 2.9% property tax increase and a 3.2% utility bill increase.
- Changes in property taxes are influenced by how an individual's assessment changes relative to the community average, not just the assessment value itself.
Understanding Your Property Assessment
BC Assessment will begin issuing property assessments on January 2, 2026. These assessments are crucial as they represent the estimated market value of your property as of July 1 of the preceding year, which is July 1, 2025, in this case. It is important for homeowners to understand that an increase or decrease in their property assessment does not automatically equate to a similar change in their property tax bill.
Property Tax and Utility Bill Increases
Delta council recently granted preliminary approval for the city's latest budget, which includes a 2.9 per cent increase in property taxes. This translates to an additional $90 for the average Delta home. It's important to note that this increase does not encompass levies from other taxing authorities, such as TransLink, nor does it include a special parks and recreation levy that has been applied in recent years to fund the Winskill Aquatic and Recreation Centre replacement.
In addition to property taxes, homeowners will also see a 3.2 per cent increase in their utility bills, amounting to approximately $51 for the average household next year. These figures are based on the average home and individual bills may vary.
Market Trends and Assessment Changes
Last January, BC Assessment noted a general stabilization in housing market values across the Lower Mainland and British Columbia for the second consecutive year, with most homeowners anticipating modest assessment changes between minus-five per cent and plus-five per cent. However, recent data from Greater Vancouver Realtors indicates varying trends within Delta for July 2025 compared to July 2024:
- Ladner: The benchmark price for a single-detached house saw a modest increase of 1.4 per cent.
- Tsawwassen: The benchmark price for a single-detached house experienced a decrease of 4.7 per cent.
- North Delta: The benchmark price for a single-family house saw a more significant decrease of 9.5 per cent.
These figures suggest that while assessments are on the way, the impact on individual property taxes will depend on how each property's value has changed relative to the average changes within their specific community.
