Property Tax

Baldwin County property tax services are handled through the Baldwin County Revenue Commission, which manages property assessment, appraisal, tax collection, exemptions, personal property taxation, and related property records. Property owners can search tax accounts online, review assessed and appraised values, estimate taxes, confirm balances, make eligible payments, and address valuation or assessment problems. This guide explains the main property tax deadlines, official search tools, payment options, exemptions, valuation procedures, and office responsibilities that Baldwin County property owners commonly need.

Property Tax Office Responsibilities

The Baldwin County Revenue Commission oversees several different parts of the property tax process. Understanding the distinction between these functions can help property owners contact the correct division and avoid confusing an appraisal issue with a payment or assessment problem.

The Collections Division collects taxes on real and personal property assessed in Baldwin County. The Assessment Department maintains assessment information and assists property owners with exemptions. The Appraisal Department determines property values using standards established by the Alabama Department of Revenue. The Mapping Department maintains tax maps and parcel information, while the Personal Property Department handles taxable business personal property.

The Baldwin County Revenue Commission also provides access to property tax information, assessment services, exemptions, map information, and other property-related services.

Property Tax Search

The county's online property system is one of the primary places to review property tax and appraisal information. The official Baldwin County property tax search allows users to look for property records using several types of identifying information.

The search system includes options for:

Owner name
PIN
Company name
Parcel number
Account number
Subdivision
Property address

When searching by an individual's name, the system provides fields for the owner's last name and first name. It also offers different last-name matching methods, including exact matching, names that start with the entered text, and names that contain the entered text. Using a broader match can help when the owner's full name is uncertain or the record appears under a slightly different format.

Search results can contain identifying and billing information such as the account, parcel, tax year, billing year, PIN, bill number, total tax, and balance due. Property owners should compare these identifying fields rather than relying on a name alone, especially when multiple people have similar names.

Selecting the Correct Tax Year

The property system allows users to select a tax year. The reference system currently presents 2025 as the active search year and instructs users looking for 2024 values to select the 2024 Tax Year.

Selecting the correct tax year matters because an owner's current property information, a prior appraisal, and the tax bill being collected may relate to different points in the assessment cycle. Alabama property taxation also operates in arrears, which can cause a recently purchased property to continue showing a prior owner's name on a tax bill.

Ownership Changes May Appear Later

Baldwin County explains that the Alabama tax year runs from October 1 through September 30 and that property taxes are paid a year in arrears. The tax bill due October 1 is issued in the name of the owner who was on record on October 1 of the previous year.

As a result, someone who purchases property after that date may receive or find a tax record that still identifies the previous owner. This does not necessarily mean that the deed or purchase was ignored. The property tax cycle determines which owner appears on that particular year's bill.

Annual Tax Deadlines

Baldwin County property taxes are due October 1 each year. Taxes become delinquent after December 31. The county generally sends courtesy notices before October 1 so property owners can review the property information and confirm that the mailing address on file is correct.

The Revenue Commission Collections Division states that penalties and interest begin accruing after December 31. Once a bill becomes delinquent, property owners should contact the Collections Division for the updated amount due because the original amount may no longer represent the full balance.

Mailing Deadlines

For a payment sent by mail, the envelope must be postmarked by December 31 to avoid penalty. Waiting until the end of December can create problems if the postmark does not reflect the intended mailing date, so the postmark requirement should be considered when choosing a payment method.

Checks After December

Personal and business checks are accepted between October 1 and February 28. This payment-method limitation is separate from the delinquency deadline. Taxes still become delinquent after December 31 even though certain check payments remain accepted afterward.

Property Tax Payment Methods

Baldwin County provides several ways to pay a property tax bill. According to the county's official property tax payment options, taxpayers may pay in person, online, by mail with a check, or by phone.

Property owners should have the correct property account or parcel information available before attempting payment. This is especially useful when the owner's name has changed, property was purchased recently, or several parcels are owned by the same person or company.

Card Convenience Fees

Credit and debit card transactions are subject to a 2.75% convenience fee with no minimum, plus a $0.30 transaction fee. Baldwin County states that the Revenue Commission does not receive any portion of this convenience fee. The fee goes to the online payment processor, ProPay.

Electronic Check Payments

An electronic check, or eCheck, may be used online between October 1 and February 28. The stated fee is $1.50 per transaction. The eCheck option is specifically identified as an online payment method.

When Online Payment Is Unavailable

The property search system in the supplied county information currently displays a notice that payments are disabled. Users encountering that message should distinguish between searching a tax account and completing a payment. The search system can still be useful for identifying a parcel, bill, tax amount, or balance even when payment functionality is unavailable through that page.

Mortgage and Escrow Payments

Property owners whose taxes are normally paid by a mortgage company remain responsible for confirming that the taxes were actually paid. Baldwin County specifically states that property tax bills are not mailed to mortgage companies.

The Collections Division provides an EscrowCheck tool showing real-time tax payment status information involving banks, mortgage companies, and other lenders. Before submitting another payment or contacting the office about an escrow payment, property owners can use the tool to determine whether an escrow exists on the property and whether the lender's escrow payment has been submitted.

For the EscrowCheck system, the item number is the parcel number without dashes. Removing the dashes is therefore necessary when entering the parcel identifier in that particular system.

How Property Taxes Are Calculated

Baldwin County provides an official property tax calculator for estimating property taxes. The calculator uses the property's tax district, property classification, appraised value, and applicable homestead exemption.

The tax district is based on where the property is located. The county instructs users to obtain the tax district through its property search system.

Property Classifications

The calculator identifies Class III property as including an owner-occupied homestead, a second home that is not rented, and qualifying current-use land such as row crop, pasture, or timberland. Class II includes rental property, vacant land, and property that is not assessed under the Class III categories described by the county.

The county's exemption information states that Class III property is assessed at 10%, while rental property is considered income-producing and carries a 20% assessment rate. A second home may qualify for Class III treatment but does not qualify for a homestead exemption.

The county also states that if a property is rented even one day during the year, it is considered rental property for the entire year for purposes described in the calculator information.

Appraised Value

The appraised value used in the calculator is the value provided by the Baldwin County Revenue Commission. The Revenue Commissioner determines property value under Alabama Department of Revenue guidelines requiring property to be valued at fair and reasonable market value.

Real property includes land and improvements. The Revenue Commission also appraises business personal property, which includes movable items used in a business that are not permanently attached to the land.

Assessment and Property Changes

The Assessment Department is responsible for assessing property and helping owners claim applicable exemptions. Property owners are responsible for making sure information maintained by the assessment office is accurate and current.

The county's property assessment information states that additions or deletions to property must be recorded by October 1 to be assessed by December 31. The county FAQ also advises property owners who make an addition to a home or place a new building on the property to notify the assessing division by the following December 31 to avoid a 10% penalty imposed by law.

Assessment issues can include changes in ownership, property use, exemption status, or other information used to classify the property for taxation. This function is different from appraisal, which focuses on the value assigned to the property.

Homestead and Other Exemptions

Baldwin County provides several property tax exemptions for qualifying property owners. The county's official property tax exemption information explains the main homestead, age, disability, blindness, and current-use provisions.

Regular Homestead Exemption

The Regular Homestead, identified as H-1, applies to qualifying property owners under age 65. A copy of an Alabama driver's license is required. The home must be occupied by a person whose name appears on the deed, and the claimant must live in the house on October 1 of the year for which the exemption is claimed.

The exemption claim or validation is filed once and must be completed before December 31 of the year the property was purchased. The county states that the H-1 exemption can reduce taxes by up to $45.

Exemptions for Age 65 and Older

The county identifies several exemption categories for older property owners. Requirements depend on income and other circumstances.

H-2: Adjusted gross income of $12,000 or less on the most recent state income tax return for the taxpayer and spouse combined, or other appropriate evidence. This provision also applies to a taxpayer who is legally blind at 20/200. Annual validation by signature is required.

H-3: Taxable income of $12,000 or less according to the federal income tax return for the taxpayer and spouse combined. It also applies to taxpayers retired because of permanent and total disability regardless of age. Annual validation by signature is required, and the county describes this category as totally exempt from all taxes.

H-4: Adjusted gross income greater than $12,000 on the most recent state income tax return for the taxpayer and spouse combined. The exemption is claimed or validated once. If income later falls below the $12,000 level, the taxpayer must sign again to qualify under a different exemption category.

Disability and Blindness

A disability exemption requires documentation. The county states that disability status must be supported by at least two medical documents explaining the disability or a copy of the original award letter from Social Security or the Veterans Administration. The documents must identify the month and year the disability began, and annual validation by signature is required.

For the partial blind exemption, one letter from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist is required. The letter must state vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses under the definition referenced by the county.

Current Use Valuation

Current Use can allow qualifying agricultural or timber property to be assessed at less than market value when used for an eligible purpose. The county's general exemption information states that owners of five acres or more of farmland, pastureland, or timberland producing agricultural products, livestock, or wood products may apply.

The owner must make a formal application with the Revenue Commissioner's Office. The application must be filed no later than December 31 for Current Use to apply in the following tax year. For example, an application for the 2027 tax year must be filed by December 31, 2026.

Once Current Use is granted, the owner generally does not reapply annually. However, Current Use attaches to the owner rather than permanently to the land. A new owner must submit a new application after ownership is transferred or the name on the deed or will changes.

Smaller Parcels and Proof

The county's current online application states that parcels containing five acres or fewer must include proof of qualifying agricultural or timber activity. Applications are denied if required proof is not supplied. One acre is automatically excluded for a residence, including a house or mobile home.

Examples of acceptable supporting proof identified by the county include:

Receipts for seed, fertilizer, fencing, or farm supplies

Records of crop, livestock, or timber sales

Feed or veterinary bills

Income tax returns showing farming or timber activity

A site or timber management plan prepared by the Alabama Forestry Commission or a licensed forestry professional

A lease or contract when land is leased for agricultural or timber use

Photographs may support an application but cannot serve as proof by themselves.

Appraisals and Annual Values

Baldwin County appraises real property and business personal property annually. Appraisals are performed a year in arrears, meaning the appraisal reflects the property as it existed on October 1 of the previous year. For example, the county states that 2026 property appraisals are based on the property's condition as of October 1, 2025.

The appraisals and valuations page explains that Annual Valuation Notices are normally completed in late April, with values posted online for property owners to review. The county encourages owners to review property information online throughout the year so factual information can be corrected when necessary.

Market Value and Tax Rates

The Revenue Commission determines property value, but the office does not establish the tax rate that ultimately determines the full property tax bill. According to the county, property taxes supporting schools and county or municipal services are also affected by tax levies, or millage rates, established annually by the County Commission and the municipalities in Baldwin County.

A change in either the market value of the property or the applicable tax levy can therefore change the amount of property tax due.

Valuation Protests

A property owner who disagrees with the county's valuation may file a written protest with the Baldwin County Board of Equalization. A Valuation Notice is not a tax bill, and the county instructs owners not to attempt payment based on the notice.

For the 2026 valuation cycle described by the county, the Notice Date is March 17, 2026, and the Final Appeal Date is April 17, 2026. Protests must be filed within 30 days of the notice date.

Required Protest Information

A protest must include the PPIN, parcel number, contact phone number, and an email address when available. The protest must be in writing and signed by the property owner or the owner's representative. Baldwin County does not accept valuation protests by phone.

Supporting evidence should be submitted when the protest is filed. Examples provided by the county include:

Recent purchase information
Property appraisals
Comparable property sales
Photographs showing property condition
Surveys documenting property issues
Three years of income and expense information for commercial property
An asset list and depreciation schedule for personal property

The Board of Equalization bases its decisions on evidence presented for the hearing. A county appraiser may first review the materials and contact the owner by telephone or email for an informal interview. If the matter remains unresolved, an appointment may be scheduled with the Board of Equalization.

Assessment Versus Appraisal Problems

The county distinguishes between assessment and appraisal problems. If an assessment has doubled from the previous year, the owner may need to contact the Assessment Department. If the record contains factual problems such as incorrect land size, building size, or a building that has been removed, the Appraisal Department is the appropriate division for those property-description issues.

Business Personal Property Taxes

Business personal property includes movable items used in a business that are not permanently fixed to real estate. The Personal Property Department appraises and assesses this property and assists with collection of related taxes.

Businesses engaged in leasing personal property, businesses with $10,000 or more in assets, and returns filed by professionals must file Personal Property Renditions electronically through the county's system under the Alabama law identified by the Revenue Commission.

Furniture, fixtures, and business equipment must be listed and assessed after October 1 but no later than December 31 each year. The county states that failure to file a Business Personal Property Return by the third Monday in January results in a 10% penalty and additional fees on the tax bill.

Personal property tax notices are sent before October 1. Payments are due October 1 and become delinquent after December 31, following the same general annual payment schedule described for property taxes.

Tax Maps and Parcel Updates

The Revenue Commission Mapping Department maintains tax maps used to identify and locate parcels. Maps are updated to reflect changes in parcel boundaries and other physical characteristics used in the county's assessment system.

Mapping information also operates a year in arrears. If a deed is recorded after October 1, the county states that the ownership or parcel change may not appear in the map viewer until after October 1 of the following year. Property owners should therefore avoid assuming that a recent deed recording will immediately appear in the tax map system.

Mailing Address Accuracy

Keeping the Revenue Commission's mailing address current is particularly important because the county normally sends courtesy notices before taxes become due, valuation notices are mailed to property owners who are not totally exempt, and annual validation forms may be mailed to taxpayers whose exemptions require yearly validation.

A missed notice does not change the annual tax due date. Property owners who move or change mailing addresses should make sure their assessment record is updated rather than relying solely on forwarded mail.

Revenue Commission Offices

Baldwin County Revenue Commission — Bay Minette Main Office

1705 U.S. Hwy 31 S.
Bay Minette, AL 36507
251-937-0245

Baldwin County Revenue Commission — Foley Satellite Courthouse

201 E. Section Avenue
Foley, AL 36535
251-972-6819

Baldwin County Revenue Commission — Fairhope Satellite Courthouse

1100 Fairhope Avenue
Fairhope, AL 36532
251-990-4627

Baldwin County Revenue Commission — Robertsdale Central Annex

22251 Palmer Street
Robertsdale, AL 36567
251-972-6819

Baldwin County Board of Equalization

P.O. Box 1389
Bay Minette, AL 36507
251-937-0245

Baldwin County Revenue Commission Personal Property Department

P.O. Box 639
Bay Minette, AL 36507
251-937-0245

Property Tax FAQs

Can a Baldwin County property tax hearing be rescheduled?

Baldwin County states that Board of Equalization hearing appointments are not rescheduled. If a property owner cannot attend the assigned hearing, the county provides a makeup day after the scheduled appointments are completed. Before the Board hearing stage, county appraisal staff may make several attempts to reach the owner by phone or email for an informal interview. Owners should submit their supporting evidence when the protest is originally filed rather than waiting for the hearing. The county posts current procedures through its Revenue Commission FAQ.

Why didn't I receive a valuation notice?

Annual valuation notices are mailed to property owners except those whose properties are totally exempt from taxes. If a notice does not arrive, check whether the Revenue Commission has the correct mailing address. A missing mailed notice does not prevent an owner from reviewing the property's valuation online. Baldwin County says valuations can be searched using identifying information such as the PPIN or owner's name through the official property search.

Does Baldwin County revalue every home on the same schedule?

Alabama law requires Baldwin County real estate to be reviewed and updated when necessary at least once every four years. A countywide revaluation can occur sooner if valuation indicators show that properties are not being assessed equally and a revaluation is directed by the Alabama Department of Revenue or a federal court. Baldwin County uses mass-appraisal procedures to value its large number of parcels consistently rather than performing a private-style appraisal for each property.

What happens when Current Use property changes use?

Changing qualifying agricultural or timber property to a nonqualifying use can create additional property tax liability under Alabama's Current Use rules. The county's Current Use application information explains that additional taxes may be calculated using the property's sales price or fair and reasonable market value, whichever applies under the statutory calculation, for prior tax years. Owners receiving Current Use valuation should review these consequences before converting the land to another taxable use.

Are Baldwin County tax maps legal property surveys?

No. The Revenue Commission states that legal descriptions and maps displayed on its websites are provided for property tax purposes. Tax maps are useful for identifying and locating parcels, but owners dealing with boundary disputes, construction placement, easements, or similar legal property questions should not treat the county's online tax map as a substitute for an appropriate survey or recorded legal document.