In tax year 2026, the median Douglas County homeowner paid $4,516 in Colorado property taxes, representing a median effective rate of 0.59% of market value, compared with 0.50% statewide. Colorado reappraises real property every two years, and recent legislation established split residential assessment rates across school districts and local taxing authorities.
In Douglas County, rates range from 0.53% in Sedalia to 0.73% in Aurora.
- Median Douglas County effective property tax rate: 0.59%
- Median Douglas County home value: $725,700
- Median Douglas County property tax bill: $4,516
Last Updated October 26, 2026
How Property Taxes Work in Douglas County
The Douglas County Assessor reappraises all real property every odd-numbered year. Under Colorado's biennial assessment cycle, assessed values for tax years 2025 and 2026 reflect real estate market values established as of the June 30, 2024 appraisal data-gathering cutoff.
Your bill is determined by multiplying your home's actual value by an assessment rate to calculate assessed value, which is then multiplied by the combined mill levies of your county, municipality, school district, and special districts.
Under SB24-233 and HB24B-1001, residential assessment rates are split: for tax year 2026, the assessment rate is 7.05% for school district taxes and 6.8% for local government taxes, with local government taxes applying after exempting 10% of the first $700,000 of actual value. Colorado property taxes are paid in arrears, meaning bills paid this year cover the previous year's taxes.
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 Douglas County Effective Property Tax Rate
0.59%
Median Douglas County Home Value
$725,700
Median Douglas County Tax Bill
$4,516
What is the Median Effective Property Tax Rate?
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.
Because Colorado applies split assessment rates to school and municipal levies and provides tiered valuation deductions, nominal mill levies cannot be compared directly; the effective rate is the clearest and most accurate way to measure true property tax burdens across Douglas County and the state.
Property Tax Rates and Bills by City
| Rank | City | Median Effective Tax Rate | Median Home Value | Median Tax Bill | 25th % Bill | 75th % Bill | 90th % Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castle Pines | 0.63% | $884,561 | $6,481 | $5,026 | $8,477 | $11,416 |
| 2 | Aurora | 0.73% | $798,562 | $5,839 | $5,154 | $6,618 | $7,334 |
| 3 | Littleton | 0.65% | $720,000 | $5,536 | $3,939 | $7,993 | $10,456 |
| 4 | Larkspur | 0.61% | $897,769 | $5,445 | $4,065 | $6,974 | $8,626 |
| 5 | Franktown | 0.54% | $977,343 | $5,256 | $4,085 | $7,026 | $10,413 |
| 6 | Lone Tree | 0.60% | $823,058 | $5,152 | $3,850 | $8,128 | $12,481 |
| 7 | Sedalia | 0.53% | $920,000 | $4,960 | $2,865 | $6,598 | $10,525 |
| 8 | Elbert | 0.62% | $678,774 | $4,598 | $3,118 | $7,361 | $9,748 |
| 9 | Parker | 0.60% | $706,353 | $4,392 | $3,281 | $6,045 | $7,666 |
| 10 | Castle Rock | 0.63% | $688,968 | $4,367 | $3,296 | $5,868 | $8,449 |
| 11 | Highlands Ranch | 0.58% | $732,319 | $4,202 | $3,565 | $5,178 | $6,430 |
| 12 | Louviers | 0.61% | $508,519 | $2,931 | $2,596 | $3,485 | $4,424 |
| 13 | Woodland Park | 0.54% | $521,420 | $2,707 | $690 | $3,468 | $4,069 |
| 14 | Englewood | 0.62% | $456,467 | $2,698 | $2,418 | $3,033 | $5,297 |
| — | Elizabeth | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| — | Palmer Lake | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
How to Appeal Your Property Taxes in Douglas County
You can appeal your property's valuation or classification if your assessed value exceeds what similar properties sold for during the statutory appraisal collection window. The Colorado Division of Property Taxation oversees assessment rules, and your appeal begins with the Douglas County Assessor.
Review your Notice of Valuation (NOV)
The Douglas County Assessor mails Notices of Valuation by May 1 in reappraisal years. Evidence is strictly limited to arm's-length sales of comparable homes occurring during the statutory 18- or 24-month appraisal window that ended June 30, 2024.
File a protest with the assessor
Submit your protest in writing or through the Douglas County Assessor's online portal by June 8. The assessor reviews your evidence and mails a written Notice of Determination (NOD) by the last regular working day in August.
Appeal to the County Board of Equalization (CBOE)
If you disagree with the assessor's determination, submit an appeal to the Douglas County Board of Equalization by September 15.
Attend the CBOE hearing
The County Board of Equalization (or an appointed independent hearing referee) reviews comparable sales and market evidence from you and the assessor and issues a written ruling.
Further appeal
If you disagree with the CBOE's final decision, you can appeal within 30 days of the decision mailing date to the Colorado Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA), file a case in Colorado District Court, or request binding arbitration through the board of county commissioners.
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Colorado Property Tax Exemptions
Colorado homeowners may lower their property taxes through state-established exemption programs:
- Senior Property Tax Exemption: The Senior Property Tax Exemption exempts 50% of the first $200,000 of a home's actual value for qualifying homeowners 65 or older who have owned and occupied their residence as a primary home for at least 10 consecutive years. Apply with the Douglas County Assessor by July 15.
- Disabled Veterans Exemption: Provides an equivalent 50% exemption of the first $200,000 in actual value for veterans with a permanent, 100% service-connected disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Gold Star Spouses Exemption: Provides property tax relief to the surviving spouses of military service members who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related injury or disease.
Key Dates
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| January | Property tax bills mailed for the prior tax year (paid in arrears) |
| February 28 | First half of property taxes due (if paying in two installments) |
| April 30 | Full property tax payment due (if paying in a single installment) |
| May 1 | Notices of Valuation (NOV) mailed by the Douglas County Assessor |
| June 8 | Property tax protest deadline with the Douglas County Assessor |
| June 15 | Second half of property taxes due (if paying in two installments) |
| Last working day in August | Assessor mails written Notices of Determination (NOD) |
| September 15 | Appeal deadline to the Douglas County Board of Equalization (CBOE) |
| July 15 | Senior and Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption application deadline |