This is the application for the Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures, run by the City of Norfolk Real Estate Assessor. It is one of the Norfolk property tax forms, used by the current owner of a residential structure at least 15 years old who plans rehabilitation work that raises the property's assessed value. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The city publishes the original form and the program details on its Tax Abatement Program page at norfolk.gov.
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What is Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures – Norfolk, VA?
The Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures application is the City of Norfolk form an owner completes to request participation in the city's Tax Abatement Program for rehabilitating an existing residential structure. The program is run by the City Real Estate Assessor.
According to the city's program page, the program encourages significant improvements to older properties. It lets taxpayers improve a structure and not pay full taxes on the value of those improvements for 14 years. The form is the residential application, printed under Ordinance #40,954.
The form states the core rule: the rehabilitation work must increase the property's assessed value by at least 20% if the structure has fewer than five units, and by at least 40% if it has five or more units. The structure must be 15 years old or older. The form warns that the cost of rehabilitation does not necessarily equal the increase in assessed value.
It also asks the owner to confirm several conditions: renovation does not include demolition and replacement of existing property, the application fee is non-refundable, work does not begin until the approval letter arrives, and taxes are current. A block marked "For Office Use Only" is completed by the city, with Zoning, Planning, Treasurer and Appraiser review lines.
Commercial and industrial properties use a different application, which the city's program page lists separately.
Who needs to file Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures – Norfolk, VA?
The current owner of a residential structure in Norfolk who wants to rehabilitate it and receive the abatement files this application. The city's program page says the application must come from the current owner, not a potential or prospective owner.
Conditions tied to the application:
- The structure must be 15 years old or older, as the form states. The city's page adds that the age requirement is 20 years if the property is in an Enterprise Zone.
- The page describes residential property as single-family or four or fewer rental units. The form sets its increase threshold by unit count: at least 20% for fewer than five units, at least 40% for five or more units.
- The work must be rehabilitation of an existing structure. Renovation does not include demolition and replacement of existing property.
- All property taxes must be current.
Owners of commercial or industrial property do not use this form; the city lists a separate commercial and industrial application. An owner who has applied before is not barred: the form asks you to list the address of any earlier application.
When to file Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures – Norfolk, VA
File the application before any rehabilitation work begins. The form states that work shall not begin until you receive the approval letter, and the city's program page adds that demolition or rehabilitation work done before the approval letter will not be included in the abated value. Appropriate building permits must also be obtained.
The form prints no filing deadline or season. Once the approval letter is issued, all work must be complete within three years from the date of that letter.
After approval, a property is removed from the program immediately if taxes go unpaid for 30 days or if it is not in compliance with the Norfolk City Codes. The form sets no processing time.
Documents you need
- Detailed plans of all proposed rehabilitation work, submitted for review with the application, as the city's Tax Abatement Program page requires.
How to fill out Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures – Norfolk, VA
Enter owner and application date
Write the property owner's name in Owner and the date in Date of Application.
Enter property address and date built
Fill in Property Address and Date Built. The form notes the structure must be 15 years old or older.
Describe the rehabilitation work
In Detailed Description of Rehabilitation Work, describe each planned improvement. The work must increase assessed value by at least 20% for fewer than five units, or 40% for five or more.
Enter the estimated cost
Write the figure on Estimated Cost of Rehabilitation. The form says 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 fee, no work before the approval letter with completion within three years, taxes current, and removal if taxes go unpaid 30 days or the property violates Norfolk City Codes.
Report any previous application
Mark Yes or No for whether you previously applied to the Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitated Structures. If Yes, list the address in the space provided.
Certify, sign and date
The owner signs and dates under the certification that the information is complete and true to the best of the owner's knowledge.
Add your contact details
Enter Mailing Address, Email Address, Home Phone, Work Phone and Contact Phone.
Leave the office-use block blank
The For Office Use Only section, with the Zoning, Planning, Treasurer and Appraiser lines, is completed by the city.
Review and download the PDF
Check every answer, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Attach your detailed plans and submit as described under How to submit.
How to submit Tax Abatement Program for Rehabilitation of Residential Structures – Norfolk, VA
The City of Norfolk Real Estate Assessor's Tax Abatement Program page links to an online residential application, and the same page links to the PDF application forms. The residential PDF itself prints no mailing address, drop-off location or email for returning it.
- Online application (Residential): the city's program page, https://www.norfolk.gov/4816/Tax-Abatement-Program, lists an online residential application.
- PDF application: if you complete the PDF, confirm with the City Real Estate Assessor, through that page, where and how to return it.
The program page says detailed plans of all proposed work must be submitted for review with the application. Submit it as the current owner. The application fee is non-refundable and varies by project type; the city's program page lists the current amounts. Do not start demolition or rehabilitation until you have the approval letter. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the city's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting demolition or rehabilitation before the approval letter arrives; the form forbids it, and early work is not included in the abated value.
- Planning demolition and replacement of the existing structure; the form says renovation does not include it.
- Applying as a prospective buyer; the city's page requires the current owner to apply.
- Assuming the estimated cost of rehabilitation equals the increase in assessed value; the form says it does not necessarily.
- Applying for a structure under 15 years old, or with work that will not raise assessed value by at least 20% (fewer than five units) or 40% (five or more units).
- Leaving the Yes/No acknowledgment questions blank, including the question on whether all property taxes are current.
- Expecting the application fee back if the project is not approved; the form states it is non-refundable.
- Omitting the detailed plans of the proposed work that the program page says go with the application.
- Not listing the address of an earlier Tax Abatement Program application when answering Yes to the previous-application question.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Norfolk Tax Abatement Program for residential rehabilitation?
It is a City of Norfolk program, run by the Real Estate Assessor, that lets owners improve older structures and not pay full taxes on the value of those improvements for 14 years. This form is the residential application to take part.
How much must the work raise the assessed value?
At least 20% if the structure has fewer than five units, and at least 40% if it has five or more units, according to the form. The form also warns that the cost of the work does not necessarily equal the increase in assessed value.
How old must the house be to qualify?
The form requires the structure to be 15 years old or older. The city's program page says the age requirement is 20 years if the property is in an Enterprise Zone, and 40 years for commercial and industrial property.
Can I start the renovation before I get approval?
No. The form says work shall not begin until you receive the approval letter. The city's page adds that work done earlier is not included in the abated value. After approval, all work must be complete within three years of the letter's date.
Is there an application fee, and is it refundable?
Yes, a fee applies and the form states it is non-refundable. The amount depends on the project type, so check the City of Norfolk's Tax Abatement Program page for the current fees. The form does not say how the fee is paid.
What happens if I stop paying property taxes after approval?
The form says the property is immediately removed from the program if taxes go unpaid for 30 days, or if the property is not in compliance with the Norfolk City Codes. Taxes must also be current when you apply.
Can I apply for the abatement online?
The city's program page lists an online residential application. You can also fill out this PDF online on FillingPDF and download it; FillingPDF does not file anything with the city, so confirm with the City Real Estate Assessor how to return the completed form.
Does a prospective buyer qualify to apply?
No. The city's program page says the application must be submitted by the current owner, not a potential or prospective owner.
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