Property tax FAQ
Questions
- How do Courtenay’s taxes compare to other communities?
- Are there programs that help with property taxes?
- Where does the City’s revenue come from?
- Where do my property taxes go?
- How does my property assessment affect my taxes?
- When are property taxes due?
- Why pay online before the due date?
- How are penalties applied?
- Why are unclaimed Home Owner Grants penalized?
- Do I still get penalized if I didn’t receive my tax notice?
- Are penalties ever waived?
- What legislation governs penalties?
- Why does the City charge tax penalties?
- Can Council waive penalties?
Answers
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How do Courtenay’s taxes compare to other communities?
Courtenay’s property taxes are within the range of other similar local governments.
However, some external costs and services are set by other levels of government and may be higher for Courtenay due to its population size. For example, Courtenay pays 90 per cent of the cost for RCMP policing under its contract, while smaller communities may pay 70 per cent or less for the same service.
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Are there programs that help with property taxes?
Yes. The Province of B.C.'s property tax deferment program offers low-interest loans to help eligible homeowners pay annual property taxes on their principal residence. The program is available to:
- Homeowners aged 55 and older
- Surviving spouses
- People with disabilities
- Families with children
Learn more on the Province of B.C.'s property tax deferment program page. You can also call toll-free at 1-888-355-2700.
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Where does the City’s revenue come from?
About half of the City’s operating revenue comes from property taxes. Other sources include fees and charges, government grants and transfers from reserves and surplus funds.
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Where do my property taxes go?
Taxes help fund City services such as fire and police protection, road maintenance, parks, recreation, cultural facilities and administration.
Of the property taxes collected, just over half stays with the City of Courtenay. The rest is collected on behalf of other taxing authorities, including:
- Comox Valley Regional District
- School district
- Hospital
- BC Assessment
- Vancouver Island Regional Library
- Municipal Finance Authority
The City does not control these external charges.
Utility services like water, sewer and garbage are self-funded. Rates are based on the cost of delivering those services.
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How does my property assessment affect my taxes?
A higher property assessment doesn't always mean a large tax increase. What matters is how your assessment compares to the average change in Courtenay.
In 2025, the average value of a single-family home in Courtenay increased by 1 per cent. If your property increased more than average, you may see a tax increase. If your increase was lower, your taxes could go down, depending on the tax rate.
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When are property taxes due?
Property taxes are due by 4:30 p.m. on the first business day after July 1. The due date appears on your tax notice and is shared through the City's website, social media and local newspapers.
Tax notices include a reminder to claim your Home Owner Grant online and to make payments before the deadline to avoid penalties.
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Why pay online before the due date?
Most banks stop processing payments after 3 p.m., and processing times can vary. Payments made after your bank’s local cut-off on the due date may be recorded the next business day — making them late.
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How are penalties applied?
A 10 per cent penalty is applied to any unpaid current-year taxes after 4:30 p.m. on the due date. This includes amounts owing because the Home Owner Grant was not claimed. The penalty rate is set by the Municipal Tax Regulation.
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Why are unclaimed Home Owner Grants penalized?
The Home Owner Grant reduces your property taxes. If you don’t claim it, the grant amount is considered unpaid taxes and is subject to a penalty.
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Do I still get penalized if I didn’t receive my tax notice?
Yes. Property owners are responsible for paying taxes on time — even if a tax notice was not received.
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Are penalties ever waived?
No. Penalties are required by Provincial legislation and are not discretionary.
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What legislation governs penalties?
Under Section 426 of the Community Charter – Municipal Tax Regulation, if any part of the property taxes for a property remains unpaid after July 2 of the year they are levied:
"The collector must add to the unpaid property taxes a penalty equal to 10 per cent of the unpaid amount."
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Why does the City charge tax penalties?
Late payments can force the City to borrow money or lose interest income, which affects all taxpayers. Penalties help recover these costs from only those who paid late.
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Can Council waive penalties?
Council cannot cancel penalties unless under extraordinary circumstances, such as a natural disaster.
Council may request a Minister’s order to write off penalties, but only if:
- Avoiding the penalty was impossible.
- The relief can be applied fairly to all in the same situation.
Common situations like illness, travel, user error or mail delays do not qualify. In those cases, other payment options were available.
Adapted from the Province of British Columbia website, Local Government Finance