The Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures application is the form that owners submit to the City of Norfolk Real Estate Assessor to take part in the city's tax abatement program for a mixed-use rehabilitation. It is one of the Norfolk property tax relief options for older buildings: the program lets owners of qualifying structures avoid paying full taxes on the value of the improvements for 14 years. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the city at norfolk.gov.
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What is Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures – Norfolk, VA?
The Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures application is the City of Norfolk form an owner completes to ask the City Real Estate Assessor to admit the rehabilitation of an older mixed-use building into the city's tax abatement program.
The program's stated purpose is to encourage significant improvements to older residential, commercial and industrial properties. Owners who improve a qualifying structure do not pay full taxes on the value of those improvements for 14 years. On December 9, 2025, the Norfolk City Council added mixed-use projects as a new category. The city's example is a project that combines commercial retail uses with residential apartment dwellings, and a mixed-use project is governed by its predominant use, measured by 60% or more of the space used.
This application is the mixed-use version. It differs from the neighboring applications in one way: if at least 60% of the proposed renovation is residential, the form requires you to also complete and submit the application for the Tax Abatement Program for Residential Structures at the same time. If at least 60% is commercial and industrial, you must also submit the application for the Tax Abatement Program for Commercial and Industrial Structures.
The form collects the owner, the property address and date built, a description of the work, the estimated cost, a series of acknowledgments and the owner's signed certification. It ends with an office-use block signed by Zoning, Planning, the Treasurer and the Appraiser. The printed form cites Ordinance #50212.
Who needs to file Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures – Norfolk, VA?
The current owner of an existing building in Norfolk who plans to rehabilitate it as a mixed-use project and wants the tax abatement applies. The city's page states that the application must be submitted by the current owner, not a potential or prospective owner.
Conditions that come with the form:
- The structure must be 15 years old or older, as the form prints beside Date Built. The city's program page gives other minimum ages for commercial and industrial property (40 years) and for property in an Enterprise Zone (20 years), so confirm which age applies to your building with the Real Estate Assessor.
- The work must be a rehabilitation of an existing structure. The form asks you to confirm you understand that renovation shall not include demolition and replacement of existing property.
- All property taxes must be current.
- If at least 60% of the renovation is residential, or at least 60% is commercial and industrial, you must also submit the matching companion application at the same time.
Do not use this form if your project is purely residential or purely commercial and industrial; those categories have their own applications. The form names no one else who may sign for the owner.
When to file Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures – Norfolk, VA
File the application before any work starts. The form asks you to confirm that work shall not begin until you receive the approval letter, and the city's page adds that demolition or rehabilitation done before the approval letter from the City Assessor is not included in the abated value. Appropriate building permits must also be obtained.
No calendar deadline is printed on the form. The timing rules that follow approval are these: all work must be complete within three years from the date of the approval letter, and the property is immediately removed from the program if taxes are not paid for 30 days or if the property is not in compliance with the Norfolk City Codes. Enter the date you complete the application next to Date of Application. If a companion residential or commercial and industrial application is required, submit it at the same time as this one.
Documents you need
- Detailed plans of all proposed work, submitted for review with the application, as the city's program page requires.
- The Application for the Tax Abatement Program for Residential Structures, only if at least 60% of the proposed renovation is for residential use; submit it at the same time as this form.
- The application for the Tax Abatement Program for Commercial and Industrial Structures, only if at least 60% of the proposed renovation is for commercial and industrial use; submit it at the same time.
How to fill out Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures – Norfolk, VA
Answer the residential-use question
At the top, mark Yes or No for whether at least 60% of the proposed renovation is for residential use. If Yes, you must also complete and submit the Residential Structures application at the same time.
Answer the commercial-use question
Mark Yes or No for whether at least 60% of the renovation is for commercial and industrial use. If Yes, you must also submit the Commercial and Industrial Structures application at the same time.
Enter owner and application date
Write the owner's name in Owner and the date you complete the form in Date of Application.
Enter property address and date built
Write the Property Address and the Date Built. The form notes that the structure must be 15 years old or older.
Describe the work and estimate cost
Under Detailed Description of Rehabilitation Work, describe the planned rehabilitation. Enter the Estimated Cost of Rehabilitation; the form notes that this cost does not necessarily equal the increase in assessed value.
Answer the acknowledgment questions
Mark Yes or No for each question: no demolition and replacement, non-refundable application fee, no work before the approval letter and completion within three years, taxes current, and removal from the program if taxes go unpaid for 30 days or the property is out of compliance with the Norfolk City Codes.
Report any earlier application
Mark Yes or No for previous participation in the Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitated Structures. If Yes, list the address in the space provided.
Sign, date and add contact details
Sign and date the certification that the information is complete and true. Enter your mailing address, email address and the home, work and contact phone numbers.
Leave the office-use block alone
The For Office Use Only section, with date received, account number, fee paid and the Zoning, Planning, Treasurer and Appraiser lines, is completed by the city.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every Yes/No answer and the companion application requirement, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Mixed Use Structures – Norfolk, VA
The mixed-use form itself prints no mailing address, drop-off location or portal, so confirm the delivery method with the City of Norfolk Real Estate Assessor.
- City program page: https://www.norfolk.gov/4816/Tax-Abatement-Program is where the city lists the program's brochure, its PDF application and its online applications for residential and for commercial and industrial structures. It does not list a separate online application for mixed use.
- Companion application: when 60% or more of the renovation is residential, or 60% or more is commercial and industrial, send the matching residential or commercial and industrial application together with this one.
- Plans: the city's page says detailed plans of all proposed work must be submitted for review with the application.
- Fee: the form states that the application fee is non-refundable. The amount depends on the type of property and is listed on the city's program page; the form does not say how it is paid, so ask the Real Estate Assessor.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the city's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the companion residential or commercial and industrial application when 60% or more of the renovation falls in that use; the form says both must be submitted simultaneously.
- Starting demolition or rehabilitation before receiving the approval letter; work done earlier is not included in the abated value.
- Describing a project that demolishes and replaces existing property; the form says renovation shall not include it.
- Treating the estimated cost of rehabilitation as the expected increase in assessed value; the form warns the two are not necessarily equal.
- Applying while property taxes are not current, or letting taxes go unpaid for 30 days after admission, which removes the property from the program.
- Applying as a prospective buyer; the application must come from the current owner.
- Assuming the application fee can be refunded; the form states it is non-refundable.
- Leaving out the address of an earlier application when answering Yes to the previous participation question.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Norfolk mixed-use tax abatement application?
It is the City of Norfolk Real Estate Assessor's application for rehabilitating a mixed-use structure under the Tax Abatement Program. The program lets owners of qualifying older buildings avoid paying full taxes on the value of the improvements for 14 years.
How does the Norfolk property tax abatement work?
After the Real Estate Assessor approves your project and the work is done, you do not pay full taxes on the value of the improvements for 14 years, according to the city's program page. The property must keep taxes current and stay in compliance with the Norfolk City Codes.
What counts as a mixed-use project in Norfolk?
The city's example is a project with commercial retail uses and residential apartment dwellings. A mixed-use project is governed by its predominant use, measured as 60% or more of the space used. This category was added by City Council on December 9, 2025.
Do I need to file more than one abatement application?
Possibly. If at least 60% of the renovation is for residential use, also submit the Residential Structures application; if at least 60% is for commercial and industrial use, also submit the Commercial and Industrial Structures application. Submit them simultaneously.
Can I start work before the application is approved?
No. The form says work shall not begin until you receive the approval letter. The city adds that work done before the letter is not included in the abated value, and all work must be complete within three years of the letter's date.
Is the Norfolk tax abatement application fee refundable?
No. The form asks you to acknowledge that the application fee is non-refundable. The fee amount depends on the type of property and is listed on the city's Tax Abatement Program page; ask the Real Estate Assessor how it is paid.
Can I fill out the Norfolk mixed-use abatement application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Norfolk and does not submit the application; you deliver it through the channels the city provides.
Can a prospective buyer apply for the abatement?
No. The city's page says the application must be submitted by the current owner, not a potential or prospective owner. The form also asks whether all property taxes are current.
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