Chelan County Assessor

Real Property

Real property includes land, improvements to land, structures, and certain equipment affixed to structures. Characteristics of real property that influence the value include but are not limited to zoning, location, view, geographic features, easements, covenants, and the condition of surrounding properties.

State law requires that County Assessors value all taxable property at 100% of its true and fair market value in terms of money, according to the highest and best use of the property.   That means that the Assessor must first know what similar properties are selling for and what it would cost to replace it.  There are three basic approaches to the valuation of real property:

  1. Market or sales approach:  Comparison of a property with the characteristics of similar properties that have recently been sold.
  2. Cost approach:  Estimate of the replacement cost of a structure, and adjusting that estimated value to account for depreciation and obsolescence.
  3. Income approach:  For Commercial/industrial property; an analysis of a property’s value based on its capacity to generate revenue for the owner.
Fair market value is the amount that a willing and unobligated buyer is willing to pay a willing and unobligated seller.  In other words, it is the price most people would pay for your property in its present condition.  The Assessor does not create the fair market value nor does one sale within a neighborhood or area create the fair market value.  Multiple sales of comparable properties within a neighborhood or area are used to establish the fair market value for that area.  By law, our office is required to use sale data from 2016 to set the fair market value for your property’s 2017 assessed value which was set on January 1, 2017.

Posted: 12/09/2014 02:03 PM
Last Updated: 11/15/2018 05:11 PM

Chelan County Calendar

Upcoming events and schedules at the county!

  • 08
    Nov 2024
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office
  • 06
    Nov 2024
    09:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Hearing Examiner - November 6, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    Chelan County Administrative Building or via zooom
  • 05
    Nov 2024
    09:00 AM - 08:00 PM

    Election Day

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Election Day

    Please see Ballot Drop Locations
  • 31
    Oct 2024
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Second Half Property Tax Deadline

    Posted by: Chelan County Treasurer

    Second half property tax deadline

  • 29
    Oct 2024
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

    Registration in person at our office

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Registration Deadline in person at our office.