Can I appeal my Sedgwick County property valuation? What to know
In less than a month, the Sedgwick County appraiser’s office will mail out property valuations to all county property owners, informing them of their new assessed values.
The annual report, unveiled last week, shows 88% of county homeowners, and 90% of those in Wichita, will see an increase in their home values. On average, those increases would be about 13.5% in the county and 14.5% in Wichita with an overall median net change of 9.3% in the county.
Another year of rising values may mean another year of higher property tax bills for many, as the valuations set each spring are used to determine how much is owed in taxes. In recent years, county homeowners have continued to see substantial increases in their tax bills.
If you do see a significant jump in your valuation this year and don’t believe it is accurate, you have up to 30 days after the date on the notice to appeal.
“When you receive that valuation notice, if the property owner … does not believe that it’s correct, for whatever reason, they can actually contact our office and visit with our office if they want to appeal their valuation,” Sedgwick County appraiser Deanna Aspedon said.
Here’s what to know about that process.
How do I appeal my property valuation?
To appeal the new value, homeowners should sign the form provided with the valuation notice and send it back to the address listed.
With the appeal, owners should provide evidence of value. That evidence can include things like sales data, recent fee appraisals and property condition evidence, like photos and inspection reports. Property owners can submit their evidence on Sedgwick County’s website, by email or by snail mail.
After the appeal is filed, an informal meeting will be held with a county official and whoever is representing the property. Failure to appear at the meeting will lead to the termination of the appeal, the county’s website reads.
If you don’t agree with the findings, property owners can appeal that decision through several avenues, including Kansas District Court. Those steps will be provided to the property owner at the informal meeting, the county’s website says.
Once the deadline to appeal has passed, property values are set for the coming taxing cycle.
There’s also a payment under protest appeal in which taxpayers can protest their tax bill either when the first half of taxes are paid Dec. 20 or the second half May 10. These forms can be filled out at the Sedgwick County treasurer’s office or by calling 660-9000 to have the form mailed or faxed to you. Once the protest forms have been filled out properly, an informal meeting will be set with one of the county’s appraisers, Sedgwick County’s website says.
Property valuations are only one part of calculating property taxes.
Clerks in all taxing jurisdictions still need to set tax rates for the year. Local governments in the Wichita area typically set their mill levies in August while adopting budgets. The county then takes the assessed value times the mill levy rate to determine how much property owners owe.
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
