Chico, Butte County, California Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Chico, California
Median Chico, California effective property tax rate: 1.09%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the California state median of 1.21%.
Median Chico, California home value: $348,174
Median annual Chico, California tax bill: $3,581, higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Butte calculated?
Property taxes in Chico, California are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Chico's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Chico, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Chico, Butte County, California Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
1.09%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$3,795
$3,522
How Does the Chico Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Chico property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value, and the calculator applies Chico's median effective tax rate of 1.09% — based on actual property records in Butte County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local appraisal district uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. The calculator applies Chico's median effective rate across all local levies, which is more accurate than using a single county millage rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Chico: rates range from $3,210 in 95926 to $3,937 in 95973, primarily because of differences in school district levies and local assessment districts. Chico's median tax rate is higher than the national median property tax rate of 1.02%, and the median bill of $3,581 is higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Chico.
About Chico Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Chico, Butte, California
Chico's median effective property tax rate of 1.09% is lower than the California state median of 1.21% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Butte County base levy combined with local school district levies and Mello-Roos Community Facility Districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Chico. Homeowners in the 95928 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 1.09%, while those in 95926 pay 1.08%. This spread — 0.01 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Butte County. Understanding which part of Chico you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Chico homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the local Tax Assessor before the November 30, 2026 deadline each year.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Chico, Butte County, California
As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.
Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.
While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.
Below, you can compare Chico's effective property tax rate to other cities in California and the median property tax rates in California and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Chico Tax Rate
1.09%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Butte County Tax Rate
1.07%
Median Effective California Tax Rate
1.21%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Chico, Butte County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95926 | 1.03% | 1.06% | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.10% |
| 95928 | 1.04% | 1.07% | 1.09% | 1.11% | 1.15% |
| 95973 | 1.04% | 1.07% | 1.09% | 1.13% | 1.17% |
| 95942 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 95966 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Chico, Butte County, California
When examining property taxes in Chico, California, understanding the distinction between "market value" and "assessed value" is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The Butte County assessor estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices:
In Butte County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of July.
Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Chico.
For example, the median home price in Chico is $348,174, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. 95973 has the highest median home price at $384,954.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Chico, Butte County, California
Source: Ownwell
$79,257
$232,106
$384,954
Median Chico Market Value
$348,174
Median Butte County Market Value
$272,170
Median California Market Value
$427,605
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Chico, Butte County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95926 | $128,068 | $200,472 | $309,866 | $418,738 | $524,978 |
| 95928 | $129,266 | $218,329 | $342,120 | $477,282 | $656,147 |
| 95973 | $179,357 | $273,578 | $384,954 | $505,134 | $662,422 |
| 95942 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 95966 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Chico, Butte County, California
Property tax bills in Chico are based on the assessed value of a home, not its market price alone. Local tax rates are applied to that assessment, and the final bill can also reflect voter-approved levies and other local charges. For homeowners, that means two houses with similar market values can still receive different tax bills if their assessed values or tax rates differ.
In Chico, the median home price is $348,174, while the tax bill often falls between $2,133 and $5,006, with the 90th percentile reaching $6,675. The highest median tax bill is $3,937 in ZIP code 95973, and the lowest median tax bill is $3,210 in ZIP code 95926. Compared with the national median property tax rate of 1.02% and national median property tax bill of $2,400, Chico homeowners can face bills that vary widely depending on location and assessment.
Median Chico Tax Bill
$3,581
Median Butte County Tax Bill
$2,669
Median California Tax Bill
$5,134
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Chico, Butte County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95926 | $1,140 | $2,006 | $3,210 | $4,442 | $5,616 |
| 95928 | $1,154 | $2,157 | $3,574 | $5,167 | $7,111 |
| 95973 | $724 | $2,255 | $3,937 | $5,369 | $7,077 |
| 95942 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 95966 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Property Valuation Date | January 1 |
| Appeal Deadline | November 30 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | October 1 |
| Due Date #1 | December 10 |
| Due Date #2 | April 10 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Butte Tax Assessor | |
| Website | assr.parcelquest.com |