Property taxes overview

Property taxes are your share of the total cost of local government. Taxes help support a variety of resources in the county, cities and schools. Hennepin County commits to managing our share wisely and transparently.

Learn about annual property notices and electronic delivery options.

Review property tax payment options.

How property taxes are determined

There are many state laws that affect both the amount of your property tax and the way it's determined.

Learn why property taxes vary from year to year (PDF, 1MB).

Tax levies

There are more than 70 local governments in Hennepin County.

All properties are part of more than 1 taxing district. A property can be in a county, city, school district and other special taxing districts.

Each year local governments determine what local services they will provide. They do this in their budget process.

They decide how much the services will cost, and where they'll get the money.

After taking into account other sources of revenue like state paid aid, fees, etc., the rest is levied on taxable properties.

Local governments may decide not to change the amount of their levy from one year to the next. If this happens, your tax may go down, go up, or remain the same.

The county auditor calculates the tax rate for each taxing district by using the levy and property assessment data.

Property value

The assessor determines the value of your property.

The value of your property relative to the value of all other property in the district is the basis for your share of the levies. 

Property use

Property is taxed based on its use even if it has the same market value as another property.

For example, commercial property has a higher tax than residential property of the same value.

Classification and use are assigned during the annual property assessment.

Things I can do to impact my property tax

There are several ways you can take part in the property tax process.

• Attend the annual truth-In-taxation meeting to discuss how tax levies were determined for the coming year. If your district is not required to have a meeting or you cannot attend, call or write your elected officials.
• Direct questions about your property value or its classification to your local assessor.
• If you are concerned with spending, get involved in the budget process.
• Contact your state representative and/or state senator, if you would like to see changes in the property tax process.

Learn more about property assessment and your local assessment office.

The process for calculating taxes

Process

January

• Value, classification and use are assigned to each property during the annual property assessment.
• This assessment data reflects property as of January 2nd of the current year. 

March

• Valuation notices that show how your property is assessed this year are mailed out.
• This information will be used to calculate your property taxes next year.

June - September

• Estimated taxes for the next year are calculated during local budgeting processes.
• Truth-in-taxation meetings are scheduled for property owners to provide input on the proposed budget and levies.

Mid to late November

• Proposed levies and tax notices for the next year go out.

November 25 - December

• Truth-in-taxation meetings are held.
• Local budgets are finalized.

January and February of next year

• Final taxes are calculated

March of next year

• Property tax statements for taxes payable this year are mailed out.

Common taxing districts and services provided

More than 70 independent local governments provide services in Hennepin County.

Here are some common taxing districts and some of the services they provide.

County services

• Social services
• Public health
• Roads and highways
• Libraries
• Corrections
• Sheriff
• Environmental services

City or town services

• Roads and streets
• Police and fire
• Parks and recreation
• Libraries
• Building safety

School district services

• K–12 education
• Community education

Metropolitan Special Taxing Districts services

• Transportation
• Regional sewer system
• Mosquito control (public health)

Other special taxing districts services

• Regional parks
• Regional railroads
• Museums
• Watershed management
• Public housing

Taxing authority websites

Cities

See complete list of cities in Hennepin County.

School districts

There are 22 independent school districts in Hennepin County.

Metro special taxing districts

• Metropolitan Council
• Mosquito Control

Other special taxing districts

• Three Rivers Parks
• Park Museum
• Regional Railroad Authority
• Teachers Retirement
• Public Housing
• Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Watershed districts

• Nine Mile Creek (district 1)
• Lower Minnesota River (district 2)
• Minnehaha Creek (district 3)
• Riley Purgatory Bluff (district 4)
• Rice Creek (district 5)
• Middle Mississippi (district 6)
• Bassett Creek (district 7)
• Shingle Creek (district 8)
• West Mississippi (district 9)
• Elm Creek (district 10)