Property Taxes

How Property Assessment Changes Impact Your Municipal Taxes

The 2023 assessed value for residential properties in Coquitlam went up by approximately 10.8% on average.  While your property value may have increased, this does not necessarily mean you will pay more taxes in 2023.  

How the value of your property changes in comparison to the average for other residential properties in Coquitlam impacts the amount of tax you will pay on your property.

Property Value Assessment

The British Columbia Assessment Authority (BCAA) is an independent organization that determines the value of all properties in British Columbia. When establishing the market value of a property, BCAA considers many factors including size, layout, age, condition, location, neighbourhood and the value of recent sales of similar properties. All owners receive a Property Assessment Notice by December 31 each year.

What to Do with Your Assessment

It is important to check all details on the Property Assessment Notice. If you have questions about your property assessment, please call BCAA to speak with an appraiser. If you still disagree with your assessment after talking with an appraiser, you can file a formal Notice of Complaint (Appeal).

Deadline to File

The deadline to file a Notice of Complaint (Appeal) is January 31. Send your Notice to:
BCAA, North Fraser Region
BC Assessment Greater Vancouver Office
Suite 200 - 2925 Virtual Way
Vancouver BC V5M 4X5

Phone: 1-866-825-8322
BCAA Website

Why Assessed Value is Important to You

The assessed value of your property as determined by the BCAA is used to calculate how much property tax you will pay. With the BCAA Notice of Complaint (Appeal) deadline being January 31, once you have received your Tax Bill in May, it will be too late to make any changes to the assessed value of your property.

City Council determines the budget it needs to provide services to residents and businesses. Each year in May, a Municipal Property Tax Rate is set to collect the necessary taxes to pay for the many important services provided.

Calculate Tax Levy for Your Property

Rates are per $1,000. Multiply the taxable value (found on your property assessment notice) by the municipal tax rate for the applicable assessment class(es).

2023 Municipal Tax Rates

• Class 1 - Residential -  1.7882
• Class 2 - Utilities -  29.9179
• Class 3 - Supportive Housing -  1.7882
• Class 4 - Major Industry -  6.0799
• Class 5 - Light Industry - 4.2169
• Class 6 - Business/Other- 6.2929
• Class 7 - Managed Forest Land - 5.3646
• Class 8 - Recreational/Non-Profit - 6.7092
• Class 9 - Farm - 17.2010

Section 224 of the Community Charter provides Council with the authority to grant Permissive Tax Exemptions for certain land and/or improvements from municipal property taxes. Council will consider requests for Permissive Tax Exemptions for certain categories of land or improvements, such as those owned and used by non-profit organizations, which provide public benefit to the residents of Coquitlam subject to the conditions of our Permissive Property Tax Exemption Policy.

For further information on the policy, please contact the Revenue Services Department at 604-927-3920.

The Province of BC offers a loan program designed to help qualified BC homeowners pay their annual property taxes on their principal residence. There are two tax deferment programs available:

• Families with children
• People aged 55 and older, surviving spouses, and people with disabilities

Information and eligibility qualifications for these programs is available on British Columbia’s Property Tax Deferment page.

Each year, if required, the City of Coquitlam holds a municipal tax sale on the last Monday of September in Council Chamber at 3000 Guildford Way. A tax sale is a public auction of all properties that have not paid their taxes for three years. 

If your property has delinquent taxes owing, contact us immediately by email or call 604-927-3050. To avoid your property being published in the newspaper, your delinquent taxes must be paid by August 31 by cash, debit or certified cheque.

General Information:

• The Local Government Act requires the City to advertise the list of properties that may be available for sale in the local newspaper in the weeks preceding the tax sale. Owners have up until the start of the sale to be removed from the list. 
• The City makes no representation express or implied as to the condition or quality of the properties being offered for sale. Prospective purchasers are urged to research the properties and make all necessary inquiries to municipal and other government departments, and in the case of strata lots to the strata corporation, to determine the existence of any bylaws, restrictions, charges or other conditions which may affect the value or suitability of the properties.  
• The minimum bid is the amount of the upset price.
• If no bidding takes place within three calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the City is declared the purchaser at the upset price.
• The successful bidder is required to have their photo ID and Social Insurance Number, or Business Number and corporate seal if required.
• Acceptable forms of payment are: Certified Cheque and Bank Draft and the sum bid must be paid immediately.
• Owners have a redemption period of one year from the date of the auction to redeem the property from Tax Sale. In order to redeem the property, the owner must pay all three years of taxes, fees, penalties and interest.
• Purchasers of the properties at Tax Sale are subject to tax under the Property Purchase Tax Act. This tax will be calculated on the market value of the property at the time title is transferred to the purchaser. 
• The City of Coquitlam will appoint a person to bid at Tax Sale for the municipality.

For complete information, prospective purchasers should consult the Local Government Act (Division 7 of Part 16)