FAQs • La Paz County, AZ • CivicEngage

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Assessor

1. What does it mean?: The 2016 valuation will be the basis for the property tax assessment and property tax bill to be sent out September 2016, in about 18 months. The full cash value is an estimate of the properties market value, and the legal classification shows how the property is used, residential, commercial, etc…

2. Does everyone get a notice?: Yes. Every property owner in the State of Arizona is required by law to be notified of their valuation annually. Notices are mailed to the current owner at the last known address on file at the Assessor’s office. Please see the Notice: Special Note page

3. Why did I receive this notice of valuation?: To notify you of any change in the full cash value, limited value, or property classification from the previous year.

4. What are your rights and responsibilities?: As a property owner your rights include knowing how the assessor arrived at the values placed on your property. You have the right to look at the public records and ask questions. Please feel free to call or come into the Assessor’s office and discuss the matter. Staff will be happy to answer your questions about the appraisal. If, after discussing values with the assessor or staff your opinion of the value of the property differs from the Assessor’s Our office you have the legal right to protest your property value if you believe it is incorrect. We encourage property owners to reach out to us with any new information on your property that we may have missed. We want to do our best to make sure your property is being assessed fairly, correctly, and equitably.

5. What is the property classification of property?: Please see the Property Classification of Property

6. Why did the Full Cash Value go up?

A property’s value can change for many reasons. The Assessor’s office is required to revalue your property based on the sales market and the improvements on the parcel. The most obvious reason is physical changes may have been made to the property such as additions or improvements.

“I haven’t made any changes to my property since I bought it.”

Although you may not have made changes to your property since you owned it, and due to our county’s size and limited number of staff we are not able to review every parcel annually. Changes may have been made or missed that we were unaware of. Real Estate transactions also create value. The assessor’s office has the legal responsibility to study transactions and appraise your property accordingly. When market value changes, so does the assessed value. It may also occur when an annual land reappraisal is completed.

7. Can the Limited Property Value go up and the Full Cash Value go down?: Yes. When there exists a large value spread between the full cash value and the limited property value, the limited property value will increase even though the current years full cash value dropped. In no case can the limited property value exceed the full cash value in any given year.

8. How can the Full Cash Value Increase In a depressed market?: The full cash value can increase in a declining market as long as it does not exceed the market value as of the valuation date. Note: the 2016 full cash value is based on the market value as of January 1, 2015 and is based on a minimum of 18 months of sales data. In the case of the 2016 valuation, sales data from year 2013 and the first half of 2014 were the basis for the valuation. Recent market changes of conditions existing after January 1, 2015 are not relevant to this assessment.

9. How is my Real Property Taxed

Tax Rates are not set by the County Assessor. They are set by all budget authorities and are separated into two types:
Primary Rates: are set by government entities such as counties, cities, and towns. They are applied to the “Limited Property Value” to determine taxes due. These taxes are used for the basic expenses of government and schools.

Secondary Rates: are set by special districts, fire districts and bond issues. Usually, taxpayers vote for these districts and bonds, so the rates are applied to the Full Cash Value to determine taxes due.

The Assessor does NOT do:

Does not raise or lower taxes
Does not collect taxes.
Does not determine your tax rate.

10. Why am I receiving a tax bill or Notice of Value for a mobile home that I no longer own?: It could be the new owner has not had the new titled issued in their name. The Assessor’s office uses the Motor Vehicle Department records to update the tax roll. The Assessor’s office cannot change ownership information until the new title is issued. Unfortunately, if your name remains as owner on MVD records you will receive a tax bill and notice of value. Neither the Assessor’s office nor the Treasurer’s office can decide as to who is responsible for the taxes. Our records merely show ownership and billing information.

11. Did every property owner get the same increase/decrease?: No. The county is broken up into separate market areas. Each of the market areas are then broken up into smaller sub-market areas and sales data from within these sub-market areas are then the basis for setting valuation levels. Areas transitioning in use, new construction or other external factors affecting market values can impact the valuation set by the assessor in each area.

12. Why did the value go up when I have done nothing to the property?: This occurs generally due to the market factor adjustment which tracks the change in the real estate market through sales analysis. It may also occur when an annual land reappraisal is completed. A value can also increase when a new owner purchases a property for which the prior owner had qualified for a Senior Property Valuation Freeze the prior year.

13. Are there any exemptions offered that assists in property tax relief?

The relief comes in several forms. First, there is an exemption for widows, widowers and totally disabled persons age 17 or over may be eligible. To qualify you must be a resident of Arizona, meet income requirements, your total assessed value of your property must not exceed the allowable dollar amount which is indexed and changes each year. You can contact our office for the current year’s dollar amount. If you are applying for the disabled exemption the disability must be total and permanent and certified by a licensed physician on form DOR82514B. You can contact our office for more information. Open enrollment for this takes place between January 1,2021 and March 1, 2021.

Senior Property Valuation Protection also known as Senior Value Freeze: Arizona law provides under Proposition 104, which passed in 2000 is designed to freeze the limited property value for 3 years. To qualify you must be 65 years of age at time of application. Be a primary residence in Arizona, meet certain income requirements. Please contact our office if your interested in an application or if you have any other questions.

14. What can I do about the increase?: Every property owner has the legal ability to file an appeal with the County Assessor if the property owner believes the assessment is incorrect. Arizona law requires the assessor to value property at market value levels, but the assessor cannot value property over the actual market value of the property. There is no restriction or limit as to an increase in the full cash value, so in the case of an appeal, the property owner is required to demonstrate documentation as to the incorrectness of the assessment or valuation. An appeal must be filed with the assessor within 60 days of the mailing of the Notice of Valuation. Forms are available on line and from the assessor.

15. Are my taxes going up?: Unknown at this time! The value of the property is half of the property tax equation. The other half is the tax levy which will be set by the taxing jurisdictions in which your property is located. If your valuation is increased due to a specific change to your property, (added new construction etc.), your taxes will definitely increase. If your valuation increased due to a general area wide land reappraisal which increased the base assessed value for the whole taxing jurisdiction, your increase may be offset to some degree by a reduction in the tax rates due to the overall increase in net assessed valuation (provided the taxing jurisdictions reduce their tax rates.) If both your full cash value and limited property value decrease, and if your tax jurisdictions do not increase the tax levy rates, your property tax bill will go down!

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Community Development

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1. Can I continue work if job is posted with a Red Tag?

If you find yourself with a "Red Tag or Stop Work Order" posted on your job and/or property, you are required to cease and desist of all activities until you notify either the Chief Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer or the Building Inspector.

114.3 Unlawful continuance. Any person who shall continue
any work after having been served with a stop work order,
except such work as that person is directed to perform to
remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to penalties
as prescribed by law.

2. When am I required to apply for a Permit?

SECTION 105
PERMITS

105.1 Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends
to repair, add to, alter, relocate, demolish, or change the occupancy
of a building or to repair, install, add, alter, remove, convert,
or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing
system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to
cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to
the code official and obtain the required permit.

3. What is exempt from requiring a Building Permit?: 105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit
requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization
for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the
provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this
jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following:
Building:
1. Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches
(762 mm) above grade and not over any basement or
story below and that are not part of an accessible
route.
2. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter
tops, and similar finish work.
3. Temporary motion picture, television, and theater
stage sets and scenery.
4. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural
purposes, and not including service systems.
5. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of
Group R-3 or Group U occupancies.
6. Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 69
inches (1753 mm) in height.

4. Am I allowed to construct in Flood Hazard Areas?: 104.10.1 Flood hazard areas. For existing buildings
located in flood hazard areas for which repairs, alterations
and additions constitute substantial improvement, the code
official shall not grant modifications to provisions related to
flood resistance unless a determination is made that:
1. The applicant has presented good and sufficient cause
that the unique characteristics of the size, configuration
or topography of the site render compliance with
the flood-resistant construction provisions inappropriate.
2. Failure to grant the modification would result in
exceptional hardship.
3. The granting of the modification will not result in
increased flood heights, additional threats to public
safety, extraordinary public expense nor create nuisances'
cause fraud on or victimization of the public
or conflict with existing laws or ordinances.
4. The modification is the minimum necessary to afford
relief, considering the flood hazard.
5. A written notice will be provided to the applicant
specifying, if applicable, the difference between the
design flood elevation and the elevation to which the
building is to be built, stating that the cost of flood
insurance will be commensurate with the increased
risk resulting from the reduced floor elevation and
that construction below the design flood elevation
increases risks to life and property.

5. What will I need to provide when applying for a Permit?: 105.3 Application for permit. To obtain a permit, the applicant
shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form
furnished by the Department of Building Safety for that purpose.
Such application shall:
1. Identify and describe the work in accordance with Chapter
3 to be covered by the permit for which application is
made.
2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be
done by legal description, street address, or similar
description that will readily identify and definitely locate
the proposed building or work.
3. Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed
work is intended.
4. Be accompanied by construction documents and other
information as required in Section 106.3.
5. State the valuation of the proposed work.
6. Be signed by the applicant or the applicant's authorized
agent.
7. Give such other data and information as required by the
code official.

6. How long is a Permit good for?: 105.3.2 Time limitation of application. An application for
a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have
been abandoned 180 days after the date offiling, unless such
application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has
been issued; except that the code official is authorized to
grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods
not exceeding 90 days each. The extension shall be
requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

7. Do I need a Permit to do repairs on my property?: 105.2.1 Emergency repairs. Where equipment replacements
and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation,
the permit application shall be submitted within the
next working business day to the code official.
105.2.2 Repairs. Application or notice to the code official is
not required for ordinary repairs to structures and items
listed in Section 105.2. Such repairs shall not include the
cutting away of any wall, partition, or portion thereof, the
removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing
support, or the removal or change of any required means of
egress or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the
egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include
addition to, alteration of, replacement, or relocation of any
standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas,
soil, waste, vent, or similar piping, electric wiring, or
mechanical or other work affecting public health or general
safety.

8. Where do I keep my Permit?: 105.7 Placement of permit. The building permit or copy shall
be kept on the site of the work until the completion of the project.

9. Do I have to submit plans for my project?: 106.3 Examination of documents. The code official shall
examine or cause to be examined the construction documents
and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the construction
or occupancy indicated and described is in accordance
with the requirements of this code and other pertinent laws or
ordinances.

10. What am I supposed to do with my plans for my project?: 106.3.1 Approval of construction documents. When the
code official issues a permit, the construction documents
shall be approved in writing or by stamp as "Reviewed for
Code Compliance." One set of construction documents so
reviewed shall be retained by the code official. The other set
shall be returned to the applicant, shall be kept at the site of
work, and shall be open to inspection by the code official or
a duly authorized representative.

11. When do I have to pay for my Permit?: 108.1 Payment of fees. A permit shall not be valid until the
fees prescribed by law have been paid. Nor shall an amendment
to a permit be released until the additional fee, if any, has been
paid.

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Recorder

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1. Where do I obtain a form for recording purposes?: At most office supply or stationary stores.

2. What are the fees for recording?: Refer to the Fees schedule at the Recorder's office or you may call 928-669-6136

3. What is a Declaration of Homestead?: Your question may be answered in ARS 33-1101 thru 33-1105 and/or by consulting an attorney.

4. How do I remove a name to my property?: Your question may be answered by contacting a title company and/or by consulting an attorney.

5. How do I add a name to my property?: Your question may be answered by contacting a title company and/or by consulting an attorney.

6. How do I know what liens are on a property?: You may search our document images online or contact a title company to perform one for you.

7. Can you tell me the selling price of a property?: You may search our document images online. In the document type select affidavit of property value.

8. How do I do a title search?: You may search our document images online by searching our grantor/grantee name index. A title company may also perform one for you.

9. Can you tell me who the owner of a property is by parcel number?: No, you would have to contact the Assessor's Office at 928-669-6165.

10. How do I get the dimensions for my property?: From the subdivision plat, which you can obtain from our office in person or by mail. You will need to have the book and page number of maps from your deed to obtain this. Please see our fee Schedule for copy fees.

11. How do I obtain a copy of a document?: You can request a copy from our office in person or by mail. You will need to have the instrument number of the document. Copies are $1.00 per page. If mailing, please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope.

12. How can I find out about a house for sale (foreclosure)?: Contact the Assessor's office to get the owner's name. You can perform further research of recorder documents online or contact a title company to perform a title search for you.

13. How do I remove a decedent's name from my deed?: Your question may be answered by contacting a title company and/or by consulting an attorney.

14. What is an Affidavit of Real Property Value?: All property sales transactions require a completed affidavit or an exemption number. For more information you may call the Arizona Department of Revenue at 602-716-6843. Affidavits of Property Value and lists of Exempt Codes are available online.

15. How do I change the ownership of a piece of property?: We suggest you contact a title company or an attorney for proper legal advice.

16. How do I record my business name?: Your questions may be answered in ARS 44-1236 or ARS 29-101 through 29-366 and/or by consulting an attorney.

17. How do I remove an erroneous lien from my property?: Your questions may be answered in ARS 33-420 and/or by consulting an attorney.

18. What happens to my document when it is presented for recording?: Please view the Document Presentation page.

19. What are the rules and regulations in filing and maintaining a mining claim?: Your question may be answered by contacting The BLM or the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources at 602-417-9200.