Homeowners across Clermont County, including those in Loveland, Milford, and Symmes Township, are facing new property values under the county's 2026 reappraisal, which raised residential assessments an average of 22% countywide.
"The average countywide increase for the 2026 reappraisal was 22% for residential," Deputy Auditor Krissy Broussard told WCPO on Sunday, July 20.
The 22% is a countywide residential average. Individual increases in Loveland, Milford, and Symmes Township may be higher or lower depending on the neighborhood and property type. Property owners can look up their specific tentative value at clermontauditorrealestate.org.
The new tentative values, released in June by Clermont County Auditor Linda Fraley's office, reflect market conditions as of January 1, 2026. They will first appear on 2027 tax bills. Taxes on the new values won't be calculated until November or December.
Why a 22% value jump won't mean a 22% tax hike
For most voter-approved levies, Ohio law requires tax rates to be adjusted after a reappraisal so those levies generate roughly the same revenue as before, Fraley said. Any additional revenue requires voter approval.
"If your value goes up 25%, that doesn't mean your taxes are going to go up," Fraley said.
Ohio House Bill 186, enacted in 2026, adds another layer of protection by limiting unintended tax increases from valuation growth. Clermont County is applying HB 186 credits to second-half 2025 tax bills, which have a delayed payment deadline of Thursday, August 7, 2026.
Under Ohio law, taxable value is set at 35% of appraised market value. Tax rates and credits are applied to that assessed value, not the full appraised figure.
What's driving the increases
The Auditor's office cited historically low housing inventory, increased buyer demand, rising sale prices, significant population growth, and continued residential and commercial development across the county. Clermont County issued a record 6,156 building permits in 2025, including 3,986 residential permits.
The reappraisal process began more than three years ago and incorporated on-site property visits, comparable sales analysis, and updated building costs, according to the Auditor's open data portal. It is the first full six-year reappraisal since 2020; a triennial update was conducted in 2023.
How to check your value and dispute it
The Auditor's property search site includes comparable sales data and interactive maps so homeowners can see how their value was determined.
Homeowners who disagree with their tentative value have two paths:
Informal review (available now): Submit a Property Value Review Form online, email [email protected], or call (513) 732-7150. The Auditor's office at 101 E. Main St. in Batavia is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office has not published a deadline for informal reviews, so property owners should submit requests as soon as possible.
Formal complaint: File a DTE 1 form (Ohio's standard property valuation complaint) with the Clermont County Board of Revision. The filing window for 2026 values opens Thursday, January 1, 2027, and runs through Monday, March 31, 2027.
