What is a property assessment?

The City's estimate of your property's market value on a legislated valuation date. It is not a bill — it is the figure your share of the tax levy is calculated from.

What is the difference between my assessment and my property tax?

The assessment is the value. The tax is that value multiplied by a rate set later in the year. Questioning the assessment is the only part of the calculation a homeowner can dispute.

How long do I have to question my Calgary assessment?

67 days from the date printed on your notice. Calgary mails residential notices in mid-January.

How much does a formal complaint cost?

$50 for a residential property. Speaking to a City assessor during the Customer Review Period is free.

What percentage of appeals win?

70% of 2025 matched residential complaints ended in a reduction (1,685 records). That is the rate among people who filed, not a forecast for your property.

Can my assessment be raised if I complain?

Yes. The Assessment Review Board can lower, confirm, or raise an assessment.

Can FairAssess tell me whether I will win?

No, and we tested this rather than assuming it. Our scoring carries no signal about who wins (p = 0.61 against 1,685 real 2025 outcomes). We tell you whether there is an equity argument to make, which is a different question.

Why can't public data see my home's size?

Calgary's open assessment roll has no building-area field. That means a larger home and an over-assessed one are indistinguishable in it, and we say so rather than guessing.

Is FairAssess legal advice?

No. It is informational document preparation built on public records — not legal advice and not a professional appraisal.

Does FairAssess cover cities other than Calgary?

No. The engine reads the City of Calgary's assessment roll. Surrounding municipalities assess separately and are not covered.

Calgary property assessment questions

Short answer. Calgary homeowners have 67 days from the date on their assessment notice to question it; the conversation with a City assessor is free, a formal complaint costs $50, and 70% of 2025 filers got a reduction.

Questions

What is a property assessment?: The City's estimate of your property's market value on a legislated valuation date. It is not a bill — it is the figure your share of the tax levy is calculated from.
What is the difference between my assessment and my property tax?: The assessment is the value. The tax is that value multiplied by a rate set later in the year. Questioning the assessment is the only part of the calculation a homeowner can dispute.
How long do I have to question my Calgary assessment?: 67 days from the date printed on your notice. Calgary mails residential notices in mid-January.
How much does a formal complaint cost?: $50 for a residential property. Speaking to a City assessor during the Customer Review Period is free.
What percentage of appeals win?: 70% of 2025 matched residential complaints ended in a reduction (1,685 records). That is the rate among people who filed, not a forecast for your property.
Can my assessment be raised if I complain?: Yes. The Assessment Review Board can lower, confirm, or raise an assessment.
Can FairAssess tell me whether I will win?: No, and we tested this rather than assuming it. Our scoring carries no signal about who wins (p = 0.61 against 1,685 real 2025 outcomes). We tell you whether there is an equity argument to make, which is a different question.
Why can't public data see my home's size?: Calgary's open assessment roll has no building-area field. That means a larger home and an over-assessed one are indistinguishable in it, and we say so rather than guessing.
Is FairAssess legal advice?: No. It is informational document preparation built on public records — not legal advice and not a professional appraisal.
Does FairAssess cover cities other than Calgary?: No. The engine reads the City of Calgary's assessment roll. Surrounding municipalities assess separately and are not covered.

Check your own address

The lookup compares your assessed value against genuinely comparable homes in your community — and tells you when the public data cannot settle it.

Look up your property

Last reviewed 2026-09-22. Sources and method: what the complaint records show.