By Jeff Prang
Los Angeles County Assessor
Following a year marked by devastating wildfires that tore through the communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena and disrupted the regional real estate market, I announced the May 15 Forecast for the 2026 Assessment Roll, projecting a 3.9 percent increase in taxable property values over 2025.
If finalized, this would mark the 16th consecutive year of growth for Los Angeles County’s
Assessment Roll.The May Forecast is an early estimate and may change before the Assessment Roll closes inearly July. It serves as an important planning tool for local governments as they prepare budgets based on anticipated property tax revenues. The Assessment Roll reflects the value of all taxable property in Los Angeles County and provides a meaningful indicator of broader real estate and economic trends.
The 2025 wildfires devastated entire neighborhoods, damaged more than 23,000 parcels,
claimed lives, and sent shockwaves through the local housing market. In the aftermath, our Office has worked diligently to ensure affected property owners receive every assessment relief benefit to which they are entitled. At the same time, we remain committed to the fair and equitable assessment of all taxable property throughout Los Angeles County.
The projected increase reflects a combination of factors that shaped the real estate market in 2025. Overall, the market remained relatively stable, with the median value of a single-family home reaching $982,000 in June.
Property transfers continue to be the largest contributor to Assessment Roll growth, adding an estimated $47 billion in new value. The annual inflation adjustment mandated under
Proposition 13, which reached the maximum 2 percent cap, is expected to add approximately $43 billion.
New construction is projected to contribute another $10.5 billion, while decline-in-value
reductions are expected to remove approximately $11 billion from the Roll.
The forecasted total net value of $2.2 trillion would generate approximately $27 billion in
property tax revenue to support essential public services, including public education, first
responders, healthcare, and other county services. All assessments are based on property
values as of January 1, 2026.
While these figures remain preliminary, they reflect the resilience of Los Angeles County’s
property tax base and the strength of the communities we serve.
