Property assessment in Maryland works differently from most states. Instead of each county hiring or electing its own assessor, the state does the job. The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, usually shortened to SDAT, values every parcel of real property. It runs a local assessment office in each county. This page lists those offices so you can find the right counter, phone number, and street address for your property.

If you own a home, a farm, a rental, or a commercial building, the value on your assessment notice shapes your tax bill. Knowing who sets that value, and who only collects the tax, saves you time and wrong turns.

How Maryland Separates Assessment From Taxation

Maryland gives property valuation to one state agency. SDAT appraises all real property in the state. Each county has a local assessment office led by a supervisor of assessments. That supervisor answers to SDAT, not to the county council or commissioners. So an office such as the Anne Arundel County Assessment Office applies the same state rules as the Garrett County Assessment Office, even though the two counties look nothing alike.

This keeps methods consistent. A rowhouse in Annapolis and a farmhouse near Oakland are valued under the same state law. Maryland reassesses each property at least once every three years. Counties are divided into areas, so roughly one-third of a county's parcels are reviewed each year. A nearby street usually lands in the same year as yours.

Your notice shows a new market value and a phase-in schedule. When the value goes up, the increase in taxable assessment is spread over three equal annual steps. When the value goes down, the lower figure applies right away. The state fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, and the bill you get in summer reflects the taxable assessment for that year.

Which office handles which question

Many Maryland residents call the wrong office first. The split is simple once you see it:

If your question is why your value is so high, call the assessment office. If it is how much you owe and when, call the county office that sends the bill.

Metro Maryland: Larger Offices and Heavier Volume

The Baltimore-Washington corridor holds most of the state's population and most of its parcels. The offices there handle more phone calls, more appeals, and more commercial and condominium accounts than anywhere else.

The Montgomery County Assessment Office is at 30 West Gude Drive in Rockville, phone 240-314-4510. The Prince George's County office is at 14735 Main Street in Upper Marlboro, phone 301-952-2500. The Baltimore County Assessment Office sits at 300 East Joppa Road in Towson, phone 410-512-4900. Expect longer hold times in the weeks after notices are mailed.

The Anne Arundel County office is at 45 Calvert Street in Annapolis, phone 410-974-5709. Anne Arundel has a long shoreline, and waterfront homes can carry very different values from inland neighbors. If you own waterfront property, bring any documents about bulkheads, piers, or flood damage when you ask for a review.

The Howard County office is at 3451 Court House Drive in Ellicott City, phone 410-480-7940. Howard has many newer subdivisions and planned communities. Owners there often ask about lot size, finished basements, and recent additions, so keep your building permits handy.

Baltimore City is an independent city, not a county, so it is not among the 23 county listings here. Its property is also valued by SDAT, but you should look for its city office separately.

Rural and Small-Town Maryland: Smaller Counters, More Personal Service

Outside the metro core, assessment offices are small and often located in or near the county seat. Staff may know local neighborhoods and farm parcels well. Many questions can be settled in a single phone call or short visit.

On the Eastern Shore, the Dorchester County Assessment Office is at 501 Court Lane in Cambridge, phone 410-228-3380. The Talbot County Assessment Office is at 29466 Pintail Drive in Easton, phone 410-819-5920. The Kent County Assessment Office is at 114 South Lynchburg Street in Chestertown, phone 410-778-1410. The Queen Annes County Assessment Office is at 120 Broadway in Centreville, phone 410-819-4160. In these counties, waterfront land, working farms, and second homes make up a large share of the tax base.

In Somerset County, our database lists the Somerset County Treasurer's Office at 30513 Prince William Street in Princess Anne, phone 410-651-0868. Call ahead and confirm which counter handles assessment questions, since the treasurer's role is billing and collection.

In the west, the Garrett County Assessment Office is at 203 South 4th Street in Oakland, phone 301-334-1950. The Allegany County Assessment Office is at 112 Baltimore Street in Cumberland, phone 301-777-2108. Garrett has many vacation cabins and lake properties, which can be valued differently from year-round homes.

Mid-sized counties sit between the two extremes. The Harford County office at 2 South Bond Street in Bel Air, phone 410-836-4800, serves a mix of suburban neighborhoods and farmland. The Frederick County office at 5310 Spectrum Drive in Frederick, phone 301-815-5350, covers a fast-growing county with both commuter housing and agricultural land.

Preparing Before You Contact a Maryland Assessment Office

SDAT offers a free online Real Property Data Search. You can look up a parcel by address, owner name, or account number. The record shows the current and prior assessments, the land and building values, the year built, the lot size, and recent sales. Check it first, because many errors are easy to spot there.

Look for these common problems:

When you call or visit, have your account number ready. It is on your assessment notice and on your tax bill. Bring a copy of the notice, photos of any condition problems, and a recent appraisal if you have one. Sales of similar nearby homes are the strongest evidence you can bring.

Most offices answer questions during regular weekday business hours. Hours vary by county, so check by phone before driving in, especially in rural areas where a small staff may be out on field work.

Appeals, Credits, and Deadlines for Maryland Property Owners

Maryland has a three-step appeal process. The first step is a request for review filed with the local assessment office. The deadline is 45 days from the date printed on your notice, not the date you opened it. The supervisor of assessments reviews the request and may adjust the value.

If you disagree with the result, you can take the second step. That is an appeal to the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board for your county, normally filed within 30 days of the first-level decision. A further appeal can go to the Maryland Tax Court. An appeal challenges the value only. It does not change the tax rate, and it does not lower a bill you simply find too high.

Maryland also offers credits that reduce what you owe on a principal residence:

Some exemptions exist for qualifying veterans, religious organizations, and charities. Rules and application steps vary, so ask your county assessment office what applies to you. Keep a copy of every form you file, and note the date you submitted it.

Property assessor offices in Maryland operate under state property tax statutes that specify how properties must be valued, how often reappraisals occur, and what exemptions are available to qualifying homeowners. The state department of revenue or taxation typically provides oversight and technical guidance to county assessors to ensure consistent valuation practices statewide.

Assessor locations are available in 23 cities across Maryland. They are spread across 23 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include La Plata, Towson, Prince Frederick, where high real estate activity and complex commercial properties create greater demand for assessor services and property valuation resources.

Property owners in Maryland should verify that their primary residence homestead exemption is active and confirm the annual appeal deadline with their local assessor office, as missing the deadline means waiting until the following tax year to contest a valuation.

Assessor by Counties

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Many county assessor offices in Maryland now offer online property search tools where homeowners can view their assessed value, recent sales history, and exemption status without visiting the office. If you have questions about a recent reassessment notice, calling or emailing the assessor's office is often the fastest way to get a response before filing a formal appeal.

Browse Assessor by county across Maryland to find the nearest location.

Planning an Assessment Office Visit Anywhere in Maryland

Maryland's 23 county offices share state rules, but the experience at each counter varies. Call first. Ask whether you need an appointment, which documents to bring, and whether the person you need is in the office that day.

In Western Maryland, the Washington County Assessment Office is at 3 Public Square in Hagerstown, phone 301-791-3050. Residents of Allegany County can reach the Cumberland office at 301-777-2108. Both serve areas where distances between towns are long, so a phone call can save a trip.

In Southern Maryland, the Charles County Assessment Office is at 101 Catalpa Drive in La Plata, phone 301-932-2440. The St Marys County Assessment Office is at 23110 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown, phone 301-880-2900. The Calvert County Assessment Office is at 200 Duke Street in Prince Frederick, phone 443-550-6840.

On the Eastern Shore, the Talbot County office in Easton, the Wicomico County Assessment Office at 201 Baptist Street in Salisbury (410-713-3560), and the Worcester County Assessment Office at 1 West Market Street in Snow Hill (410-632-1196) each serve different property mixes, from farms to beach rentals. The Caroline County Assessment Office is at 207 South 3rd Street in Denton, phone 410-819-4450.

In the north, the Cecil County Assessment Office is at 170 East Main Street in Elkton, phone 410-996-2760, and the Carroll County Assessment Office is at 17 East Main Street in Westminster, phone 410-857-0600. Write down the name of the person you speak with and the date. That record helps if a question turns into a formal appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Assessments in Maryland

Maryland reassesses every property at least once every three years, and each county is split into areas that rotate through the cycle. The simplest way to learn your area's turn is to look up your parcel in SDAT's Real Property Data Search and compare the dates of prior assessments. You can also call your county assessment office and ask which group your address falls into. A notice is mailed in the year your area is reviewed, so keep your mailing address current with the office.

You generally have 45 days from the date printed on the assessment notice to request a review from your local assessment office. That is the date on the notice, not the day it arrived in your mailbox. If you disagree with the outcome, you can appeal to your county's Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board, usually within 30 days of the decision. Read the notice carefully, because it states your exact deadline. If the date is close, file first and gather your evidence afterward.

No. The assessment office determines the value and classification of your property. Tax rates are set by your county government, and many municipalities add their own rate. The bill is then issued by the county or town and collected by a treasurer or finance office. If you think your bill is too high but your assessed value looks accurate, an appeal will not help. Rate questions should go to your county government or town hall, not the assessment office.

The Homestead Tax Credit limits how much the taxable assessment of your principal residence can rise from one year to the next. State law sets a ceiling of 10 percent, and each county or municipality may choose a lower cap. It only applies to a home you live in as your main residence, not to rentals or second homes. If you recently bought or moved into a property, ask your county assessment office to confirm that your home is classified as owner-occupied and that the credit is applied.

Our database lists the Somerset County Treasurer's Office at 30513 Prince William Street in Princess Anne, phone 410-651-0868, for this county. A treasurer's office usually handles billing and payments rather than valuation. Call that number and say plainly whether you have a billing question or a question about your assessed value. If the second, ask for the contact information of the SDAT assessment office that serves Somerset County. Having your account number from your notice or tax bill ready will speed up the call.

Yes. The Homeowners' Property Tax Credit gives income-based relief to eligible homeowners, and the Renters' Tax Credit offers income-based help to eligible renters. Both are run through SDAT, and eligibility depends on your income, your assets, and in some cases your tax bill. Some counties also offer their own local credits or deferral options. Ask your county assessment office or the SDAT credit staff for current application forms and filing dates. Gather income records and your account number before you apply.