Property Taxes in St. George Explained

The Primary Residence Exemption

The most important tax break for Utah homeowners.

If you live in the home as your primary residence for at least 183 consecutive days out of the year, you qualify for the Primary Residence Exemption. This exemption instantly reduces the taxable value of your home by 45%. You only pay property taxes on 55% of the home's assessed value.

If you are buying a second home, vacation home, or investment property, you will pay taxes on 100% of the assessed value. This means a secondary home effectively has property taxes nearly double that of a primary residence of the exact same value.

Estimated Rates in Washington County

What to expect on your bill.

While the exact rate varies depending on your specific municipality and school district, the average effective property tax rate in Washington County for a primary residence usually hovers between 0.55% and 0.65% of the home's market value.

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  For a $600,000 primary homeExpect roughly $3,300 to $3,900 per year ($275-$325/month)
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  For a $600,000 secondary/vacation homeExpect roughly $6,000 to $7,000 per year ($500-$580/month)

How Assessments Work

Washington County reassesses property values annually.

The county assessor's office evaluates market conditions every year to determine the assessed value of your home. If property values in your neighborhood jump, your assessed value will likely increase. However, Utah law includes a truth-in-taxation provision, which means that as overall property values go up, the tax rate usually goes down to prevent the county from collecting a windfall without a public hearing.