Find St. Bernard Parish Tax Records

St. Bernard Parish property tax records are managed by the assessor's office in Chalmette, Louisiana. Located just east of New Orleans, this parish has a population of about 44,000. Property values and tax records here reflect the area's ongoing recovery and growth since Hurricane Katrina. To search for assessed values, check tax roll entries, or find ownership details tied to property tax assessments, the St. Bernard Parish Assessor's Office is where you begin. You can call, write, or visit in person during business hours.

St. Bernard Parish Assessor's Office

The St. Bernard Parish Assessor's Office is headed by M. Joseph Joey D. Taranto, Jr. The office is at 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Suite B, in Chalmette. Staff here handle every property tax assessment in the parish. They can look up your assessed value, pull records from the tax roll, and help with copies of assessment documents. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The assessor is responsible for discovering, listing, and valuing all property subject to ad valorem taxation in St. Bernard Parish. That includes homes, land, commercial buildings, business personal property, and any oil and gas equipment. Each assessment is based on fair market value as defined in La. R.S. 47:2321. Residential property and land are assessed at 10% of market value. Commercial property is assessed at 15%. These percentages are uniform across all 64 Louisiana parishes under Article VII, Section 18 of the state constitution.

St. Bernard Parish has a limited online assessor website. For property record searches, you may need to contact the office directly or use third-party tools. The Louisiana Tax Commission STAX portal provides statewide assessment data that includes St. Bernard Parish.

The STAX portal gives access to tax roll data, ratio study results, and other assessment information maintained at the state level. It can be a useful backup when local online tools are limited.

St. Bernard Parish Tax Payments

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office handles property tax collection. Sheriff James Pohlmann serves as the ex-officio tax collector. You can reach the sheriff's office at (504) 271-2501 for tax payment questions. This arrangement is the same across most parishes in Louisiana.

Property taxes are due by December 31 each year. Late payments result in penalties and interest charges. If property taxes stay unpaid long enough, the parish can adjudicate the property. That means the parish takes title and can eventually sell it to cover the debt. Contact the sheriff's tax office well before the deadline if you need to work out a payment plan or have questions about what you owe. Paying on time protects your property and keeps your record clean.

How to Search St. Bernard Parish Property Tax Records

Searching for property tax records in St. Bernard Parish is best done by calling or visiting the assessor's office. The parish has limited online search tools through its own website. However, the NETR Online portal provides access to St. Bernard Parish property records through public databases. You can look up ownership, assessment values, and basic tax data there.

The Louisiana Assessors' Association directory also lists contact details for the St. Bernard Parish Assessor. This statewide resource links to every parish assessor and makes it easy to find the right office. For certified copies or official records, you will still need to go through the assessor directly.

You can also search the St. Bernard Parish Government website for general parish services and contact information. The parish government site may have links to local property resources or point you to the right department for your request.

Historical tax records from 1880 to 1973 are available through the State Land Office document system. This database holds adjudication, redemption, and sale records for all Louisiana parishes. You can search by parish and year, and images are free to download.

Homestead Exemption in St. Bernard Parish

If you own and live in a home in St. Bernard Parish, you can apply for the homestead exemption. Under La. R.S. 47:1703, the exemption takes $7,500 off your assessed value. That equals $75,000 in market value. It is one of the biggest property tax breaks in Louisiana and most homeowners qualify.

Apply at the assessor's office in Chalmette. Bring your ID and proof that you own and live in the home. The exemption stays active as long as you occupy the property. If you sell or move out, you must apply again at your new address. Seniors 65 and older may also be eligible for a special assessment level freeze. Under La. R.S. 47:1703.1, qualifying seniors can lock in their assessed value so it does not increase during the quadrennial reassessment cycle. Income limits apply to this benefit.

Note: The homestead exemption generally does not apply to municipal taxes, though Orleans Parish is an exception to that rule.

Appealing St. Bernard Parish Property Assessments

Property owners in St. Bernard Parish can appeal their assessment if they believe the value is wrong. Start by talking to staff at the assessor's office. If the matter is not resolved there, you have 15 days from the assessment notice to file an appeal with the parish Board of Review. This process is governed by La. R.S. 47:1992.

The Board of Review hears your case and issues a decision. If you disagree with the result, you can escalate to the Louisiana Tax Commission within 10 business days of the board's written determination. File Appeal Form 3103.A with the commission. They hold public hearings and make a final ruling. Judicial review is also available within 30 days of the commission's decision.

Reassessments happen every four years in Louisiana. Under La. R.S. 47:2331, the Tax Commission sets the cycle for each parish. Post-Katrina rebuilding has affected values in St. Bernard Parish. Many homes were rebuilt or replaced, and assessments reflect those changes. During reassessment years, it is especially important to review your value and file an appeal if something looks off.

St. Bernard Parish Property Values After Katrina

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had a massive impact on St. Bernard Parish. Nearly every structure in the parish was damaged or destroyed. The population dropped sharply. Since then, rebuilding has been steady. New homes replaced many of the older ones, and property values have shifted as a result.

The assessor's office has been handling ongoing reassessments as the parish continues to change. Some areas have seen values rise with new construction. Others still show the effects of storm damage and population loss. If you are searching for property tax records in St. Bernard Parish, keep in mind that records from the mid-2000s may reflect these disruptions. Earlier records, particularly those before 2005, may show very different values and ownership patterns than what exists now. The assessor's office can help sort through records from different periods if you need to trace a property's tax history over time.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border St. Bernard Parish. Each one keeps its own property tax records, so verify the correct parish before you start your search.