Columbus Home Values Jump 10% in Franklin County's 2026 Reassessment: How to Challenge Yours

Franklin County homeowners are getting new property values this year, and most are going up. The Franklin County Auditor's Office says residential values rose about 10% on average in its 2026 reassessment. Commercial values rose about 4%. Industrial values rose about 13%. By school district, residential increases range from 5% to 15%.

The state requires this kind of review every three years, using recent home sales to check if county values still match the real market. Franklin County has more than 440,000 parcels of land and buildings, so the update covers homes, farms, stores, and factories across the whole county.

"Property values are increasing at a more stable rate, but we know any change in value can raise questions," Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said.

A higher home value does not always mean a matching jump in your property tax bill. Ohio's tax formulas adjust some rates when countywide values rise, so bills often grow slower than the value itself. Still, a bigger number on your reassessment can mean more tax owed, so it pays to check the details early.

Homeowners can look up their new tentative value now on the auditor's Know Your Home Value website at auditor.franklincountyohio.gov/KYHV. The site also has a property tax estimator, so you can see roughly what your bill might look like before it's final.

If your number looks too high, you don't need a lawyer to push back. The auditor's office is holding Property Value Review sessions from July through September, both online and in person, where you can bring proof — like sale prices of similar homes nearby — to make your case. You can schedule a session through the same Know Your Home Value site.

Miss that window, and there's still a formal option later. Final 2026 values are expected in December. If you still disagree after that, Ohio law lets you file a complaint with the county Board of Revision, but the deadline for that isn't until March 31, 2027.

What this means for Columbus-area buyers and sellers: rising assessed values are one more sign of a metro where home prices have kept climbing even as national growth cools. For current owners, especially in fast-appreciating neighborhoods, this is the moment to get ahead of a tax surprise rather than wait for the bill. Renters aren't directly assessed, but higher property taxes can eventually show up in rent increases if landlords pass along the cost.

The auditor's office is reachable at 373 S. High St., 21st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, or by phone at 614-525-4663, for anyone who wants help finding their tentative value or booking a review session.

Read more about how local government decisions are shaping housing costs on our /topics/local-politics page.