Welcome to the Thurston County Assessor’s Online Office.

The Thurston County Assessor is responsible for identifying, locating, and fairly valuing all real or personal property within the county for tax purposes. The "market" value of real property is based on the current real estate market. Finding the "market" value of your property means discovering the price most people would pay for your property in its current condition. Determining a fair and equitable value is the primary role of this office in the taxing process.

Three teams in the Assessor’s Office work on the public’s behalf, ensuring that valuations are equitable, that records are kept up to date, and that customer assistance is provided. Each team plays a different but equally important role.

Appraisal Team:

County appraisers value residential and commercial properties throughout Thurston County. The Assessor’s Office has implemented a state-of-the-art technological approach to the valuation process that allows us to appraise properties economically and consistently. Experienced appraisers use a progressive computer-assisted mass appraisal system to ensure that fair values are set for all Thurston County property owners. In addition to physically inspecting a sixth of the county each year, appraisers analyze trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents to best estimate the current market value of all taxable property.

Over 6,000 Personal Property accounts are kept up-to-date through annual affidavits filed by businesses for each site located within Thurston County. Affidavits are due on April 30 each year and list all tangible equipment and supplies used to conduct business.

Property Administration Team:

The Property Administration Team maintains the official property records for approximately 126,000 parcels in Thurston County. Staff track and transfer ownership, segregate parcels, maintain legal descriptions and maps showing parcel boundaries. They also administer the Current Use Classifications for Farm and Agricultural land and for Designated Forest land along with Non Profit Exemptions and State Assessed Utilities.

Customer Service Team:

Customer Service provides information and assistance to the public in person, by telephone, by correspondence, by fax, and by electronic mail. Throughout the year, they accept and approve applications from individuals eligible for exemptions and other forms of property tax relief in accordance with statutory guidelines. Customer service employees answer a wide range of questions, such as, ownership information, lot dimensions, parcel numbers and building square footages. They also provide guidance on valuation concerns and assist customers in accessing information through self-help stations located in our lobby.

Please remember the Assessor's duties fall within the framework of Washington state law. Any changes to the assessment and tax calculation process can be made only by your state legislators. We would be happy to direct you to your representative in Olympia.

It is our sincere desire to support you in a professional, effective, responsible and courteous manner. Please feel free to contact us about any concern you have about property assessment or your eligibility for available property relief programs.

Steven J. Drew
Thurston County Assessor