Find Metairie Property Tax Records
Metairie property tax records are managed entirely by Jefferson Parish. Metairie is not an incorporated city. It is a census designated place, which means it has no city government and no city property taxes. All property tax assessment and collection for Metairie goes through the Jefferson Parish Assessor and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff. You can search Metairie property tax records online through the parish assessor's website or contact their office for help with any tax questions.
Metairie Quick Facts
Metairie Property Taxes and Unincorporated Status
Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish, but it has no city government. As an unincorporated area, there are no city officials, no city council, and no city tax levy. Everything that a city government would normally do in Metairie falls to Jefferson Parish. That includes property taxes. When you get a property tax bill for a Metairie address, it comes from the parish. There is no city portion on the bill because there is no city.
This matters for property owners because it can mean lower total millage compared to incorporated cities nearby that add their own city taxes on top of the parish rates. The Jefferson Parish government provides services like roads, drainage, and public safety for Metairie. The funding for those services comes from parish taxes and fees, not from a separate city levy.
The Jefferson Parish portal provides property tax resources for Metairie residents.
From this site you can find links to the assessor, tax payment options, and parish services that cover the Metairie area. It is the main hub for everything related to Metairie property taxes.
Jefferson Parish Assessor and Metairie Records
The Jefferson Parish Assessor sets property values for every parcel in Metairie. The office has an online search tool. You can look up any Metairie property by address, owner name, or parcel number. Each record shows land value, improvement value, total assessed value, and exemptions on file. The search is free and open to the public.
Under La. Const. Art. VII Section 18, residential property in Metairie is assessed at 10% of fair market value. Commercial property gets assessed at 15%. La. R.S. 47:2321 defines fair market value as the price a willing buyer and seller would agree on under normal conditions. The assessor uses comparable sales, cost analysis, and income data to arrive at each property's value. If you have a home in Metairie worth $250,000, the assessed value would be $25,000. After the homestead exemption, taxable value drops to $17,500.
La. R.S. 47:1951 says all property in Louisiana is subject to taxation as of January 1 each year unless the constitution provides an exemption. This applies to every property in Metairie. The assessment date is always January 1, so any changes to the property after that date get picked up in the next year's assessment.
Note: The Jefferson Parish Assessor's office has branches on both the East Bank and West Bank, so Metairie residents can use the East Bank location for convenience.
Metairie Homestead Exemption
Metairie homeowners can claim the homestead exemption. It takes $7,500 off your assessed value. That equals $75,000 of market value. Under La. R.S. 47:1703, you must own and occupy the property as your primary home. Apply at the Jefferson Parish Assessor's office with your deed, a valid photo ID, and proof that you live there. The exemption stays in effect as long as you own and live in the home.
Since Metairie is unincorporated, there is no city millage for the exemption to miss. All the taxes on your Metairie property are parish, school, and special district millages. The homestead exemption applies to most of these. Seniors 65 and older may also qualify for the special assessment level freeze under La. R.S. 47:1703. This keeps the assessed value from going up during reassessment years as long as the owner's income stays below the threshold. It is a real benefit for retirees on fixed income who own a home in Metairie.
Metairie Property Reassessment Cycle
All property in Metairie gets reassessed every four years under La. R.S. 47:2331. The Louisiana Tax Commission decides when each parish goes through reassessment. During a reassessment year, the Jefferson Parish Assessor reviews every property's value. Some go up. Some go down. Some stay the same. It depends on what the market has done.
Reassessment years are the most important time for Metairie property owners to pay attention to their tax records. Check your new assessed value as soon as the rolls open. If it looks too high, you have the right to appeal. The appeal process under La. R.S. 47:1992 gives you 15 days to file with the Jefferson Parish Board of Review after the rolls go public. The Board hears your case and decides. If you disagree with the Board, you can take it to the Louisiana Tax Commission within 10 business days.
Between reassessment years, values in Metairie generally stay the same unless you build an addition, tear something down, or the property changes hands. The assessor is not allowed to chase sales. That means they cannot adjust your value just because you bought or sold at a certain price.
Paying Metairie Property Taxes
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff collects all property taxes for Metairie. Bills go out once a year. You can pay online, by mail, or in person. The sheriff's office has an online payment portal where you search for your property and pay what you owe. Keep your receipt for your records.
Missed deadlines lead to penalties and interest. If taxes remain unpaid, the property can eventually go to a tax sale. Caddo Parish and Jefferson Parish both follow the same state rules on delinquent property taxes. The Louisiana State Land Office has historical adjudication records for Jefferson Parish properties from 1880 to 1973, available as free downloads.
Note: Metairie property owners should save their annual tax bill as it breaks down each millage and shows exactly where the tax dollars go.
How to Get Metairie Property Tax Records
Getting copies of Metairie property tax records is simple. The Jefferson Parish Assessor's website has free online lookups. You can view and print assessment records from there. For official certified copies, visit the assessor's office in person. Tax payment records come from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's office.
If you need older records that are not available online, call the assessor's office and ask what they have on file. They keep records going back many years. For title searches and legal matters, an attorney or title company can also pull these records for you. The Louisiana Assessors' Association website has a directory of all parish assessors if you need to reach the Jefferson Parish office or any other parish.
Jefferson Parish Property Tax Records
Metairie is an unincorporated part of Jefferson Parish. All property tax records, assessments, and collection for Metairie are handled at the parish level. For a full overview of Jefferson Parish tax resources, assessor contact details, payment options, and appeal procedures, visit the Jefferson Parish property tax records page.