Complaints & Appeals
Reconciling property assessment discrepancies
Do you have issues with your assessment?
Property owners who disagree with the assessed value or property classification on their assessment notice have the legal right to file a formal complaint with the Assessment Review Board (ARB).
Before initiating a formal filing, we strongly encourage you to contact the County’s Assessment Department. Most assessment discrepancies or clerical errors can be resolved quickly through an informal conversation with an assessor—saving you the time, effort, and filing fees associated with a formal appeal.
During an informal review, an assessor can:
- Review property specifications (e.g., square footage, lot size, finished basement area) to ensure records are accurate.
- Correct factual or clerical errors on the spot.
- Explain the methodology and recent neighbourhood sales data used to determine your property's market value.
Filing a Formal Appeal or Complaint
Property owners who are concerned about their assessment can file a complaint with the assessment review board
Step 1: Complete the Form
To file an assessment appeal, submit the official Assessment Review Board Complaint Form (LGS1402) within 60 days of your notice date. Include the required local filing fee and clearly state why the assessment is incorrect. To make sure your appeal is accepted, please follow these steps:
- Save before filling out: Download the PDF and open it directly from your computer’s "Downloads" folder (filling it out inside your web browser can cause errors or lost information).
- Detail your reasons: Clearly state all specific reasons for your appeal on the form.
- Submit the full form: Send the full form formatted in legal size (8.5" × 14"), making sure no pages or sections are cut off.
Form not loading? The Government of Alberta frequently changes where and how it displays documents on its website. If the button above does not open the Assessment Review Complaint Form, please visit the Assessment Complaints and Appeals page of the provincial website.
Step 2: Pay the Fee and Submit Your Form
Once you have downloaded, completed and saved Form LGS1402, you must submit it via the County's secure online payment portal. Fees are as follows:
Property Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
Residential (3 or fewer dwellings) | $50 |
Non-Residential (Commercial/Industrial) | $150 |
Click the button below to begin the submission process. Once at the County's OptionPay page, select Assessment Review Board as your payment type, fill in the relevant fields, attach your complaint form, and click Submit Payment.
Complaints with an incomplete complaint form, complaints submitted after the filing deadline, or complaints without the required filing fee, are invalid.
What Happens Next
General information on pre-hearing preparation, hearing attendance, and possible outcomes.
The Hearing Process
1. Prepare Your Evidence
Once your complaint is accepted, a hearing date will be scheduled. To build a strong case:
- Gather objective evidence, such as recent sales data of comparable properties or photographs.
- Submit all evidence to the County by the designated pre-hearing deadlines provided by the ARB Clerk when your hearing is booked.
2. Attend the Hearing
During the Assessment Review Board hearing, you and the County assessor will both present your cases. Keep your presentation concise, factual, and focused entirely on the details listed in your original complaint form.
3. Await the Decision
The Assessment Review Board will deliberate and issue a written decision.
If the ARB ruling is in your favour:
- Your property assessment will be adjusted;
- Any overpaid taxes will be credited to your tax roll or refunded upon request; and
- Your filing fee will be refunded.
If the ARB ruling is not in your favour:
- Your original property assessment remains unchanged;
- You must still pay your taxes based on that value; and
- Your filing fee will not be refunded.
Further Appeals
ARB decisions on assessment value are final. However, if you believe the board made a legal or jurisdictional error, you may apply to the Court of King's Bench of Alberta for a judicial review.
- Appeal Deadline: You must both file and serve your application within 60 days of the ARB's decision date.
- Grounds for Review: The court does not look at new evidence or re-hear the case; it only checks if the board followed correct laws, acted within its power, or made a reasonable decision.
Related Information and Resources
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