Connecticut abolished county government in 1960 — which means when you need to look up your property’s assessed value, appeal your assessment, or claim an exemption, you deal with your town, not a county office. Each of the state’s 169 municipalities employs its own assessor, sets its own mill rate, and runs its own appeal calendar. But one rule is uniform statewide: Connecticut law requires every town to assess real property at exactly 70% of fair market value. That fixed ratio, combined with mill rates that swing from under 10 in Greenwich to over 45 in Hartford, creates some of the most dramatic property tax disparities in New England. Here’s how to read your assessment, find your town assessor, and keep your bill as low as it should be.
What Is a Connecticut Property Tax ID?
Connecticut property records are identified by a Parcel ID, Map-Block-Lot number, or Account Number assigned by the local town assessor. There is no county-level parcel numbering system — each town’s format is its own. The parcel ID appears on your property tax bill, deed, title report, and town assessor’s card.
Depending on the town, you may see it labeled as:
- Map-Block-Lot or Map/Lot/Unit
- Parcel ID or Parcel Number
- Account Number (used in some Vision Government Solutions portals)
- Volume / Page (older deed-based reference, found on some town records)
How to Read a Connecticut Map-Block-Lot Number
Most Connecticut towns use a three-part identifier tied to the town’s assessor map system:
Map – Block – Lot
Example: 11 / 03 / 19
Example (subdivided): 118-0045-B
| Segment | What It Represents |
|---|---|
| Map | The assessor’s tax map sheet for an area of the town |
| Block | A grouping of parcels within that map sheet |
| Lot | The individual parcel within the block |
Some towns add a unit or condo suffix (e.g., 11-03-19-U4 for unit 4). Larger towns like Bridgeport and New Haven use longer numeric formats. Always use the format on your town assessor’s portal — formats are not consistent across municipalities.
How to Find Your Connecticut Parcel ID
1. Check Your Property Tax Bill
Connecticut towns mail real estate tax bills in June or July for the fiscal year running July 1 – June 30. Your parcel ID (Map-Block-Lot or Account Number) is printed on the bill alongside your assessed value, mill rate, and payment due dates.
2. Search Your Town Assessor’s Online Portal
Most Connecticut towns offer a free online parcel search, typically through Vision Government Solutions (gis.vgsi.com) or similar platforms. Search by owner name, street address, or parcel ID to retrieve your assessed value, property card, and tax history. The Connecticut OPM maintains a directory of all 169 municipal assessors at portal.ct.gov — Municipal Assessors.
3. Check Your Deed
Connecticut deeds are recorded with the Town Clerk (not a county recorder — there is no county recorder in Connecticut). Your deed, title commitment, and closing disclosure all reference the parcel ID and legal description. The volume and page number used to record your deed is a secondary identifier.
Connecticut’s 70% Assessment Rule
This is what makes Connecticut straightforward to audit — and to appeal. Connecticut General Statutes § 12-62a mandates that all real property be assessed at 70% of fair market value, uniformly across every town. Unlike Pennsylvania (where assessment ratios range from 16% to 100% by county) or Michigan (where Taxable Value drifts below 50% over time), Connecticut’s ratio is fixed by law.
Assessed Value = Fair Market Value × 70%
Example: Home worth $500,000 → Assessed Value = $350,000
The town assessor determines fair market value through the revaluation cycle and applies the 70% ratio. If your assessed value divided by 70% implies a market value significantly above what comparable homes are selling for, you have grounds for an appeal.
Mandatory 5-Year Revaluation
Connecticut requires every town to complete a full statistical revaluation every 5 years and a physical inspection of every property every 10 years. Unlike states where counties avoid reassessment for decades (see Pennsylvania), Connecticut homeowners can expect a revaluation on a predictable schedule. The year your town revalues is the year assessed values — and potentially your bill — can shift substantially. Check with your town assessor for the next scheduled revaluation date.
Connecticut Mill Rates by Town
Connecticut’s mill rate is set annually by each town’s legislative body (town council, board of selectmen, or city council). 1 mill = $1 per $1,000 of assessed value. Because every town assesses at 70% of market value, mill rates are the primary driver of actual tax burden differences between towns.
| Town | Mill Rate (approx.) | Effective Rate on Market Value | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | ~74 mills | ~5.2% | Hartford |
| Bridgeport | ~54 mills | ~3.8% | Fairfield |
| Waterbury | ~60 mills | ~4.2% | New Haven |
| New Haven | ~43 mills | ~3.0% | New Haven |
| New Britain | ~49 mills | ~3.4% | Hartford |
| Stamford | ~18 mills | ~1.3% | Fairfield |
| Norwalk | ~23 mills | ~1.6% | Fairfield |
| Darien | ~16 mills | ~1.1% | Fairfield |
| Greenwich | ~11 mills | ~0.8% | Fairfield |
| Glastonbury | ~30 mills | ~2.1% | Hartford |
The pattern is stark: Connecticut’s distressed cities — Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury — carry mill rates 5–7× higher than wealthy Fairfield County suburbs like Greenwich and Darien. Because all towns use the same 70% ratio, these differences translate directly into dramatically different tax bills on identically priced homes. A $500,000 home in Hartford: ~$26,000/year. The same $500,000 home in Greenwich: ~$2,800/year.
Connecticut Property Tax Exemptions
Elderly and Totally Disabled Tax Relief (§ 12-170)
Connecticut’s state-mandated program reduces property taxes for homeowners who are age 65 or older, or totally disabled, and meet income limits. The reduction ranges from $150 to $1,250 in annual tax savings depending on income. Towns may supplement the state program with additional local relief. Apply annually at your town assessor’s office between February 1 and May 15. Income limits are adjusted periodically by the legislature.
Elderly Circuit Breaker (§ 12-170aa)
For qualifying seniors (65+) whose property taxes exceed a threshold percentage of their income, the state provides an additional Circuit Breaker credit of up to $1,250. This is income-tested and applies on top of the § 12-170 reduction. Apply at the same time through your town assessor.
Veterans’ Exemptions
Connecticut offers two tiers of veterans’ property tax exemption under § 12-81:
- Base exemption: $1,500 reduction in assessed value for most honorably discharged veterans
- Additional exemption: $3,000 reduction for veterans who served during wartime or received certain decorations
- Disabled veteran: Further reductions scaled to disability percentage; 100% disabled veterans may qualify for significant additional relief
File a one-time DD-214 application with your town assessor. The exemption applies automatically each year once on file.
Farm, Forest, and Open Space (§ 12-107)
Land classified as farm, forest, or open space under Connecticut General Statutes § 12-107 is assessed at its use value rather than fair market value. Use values are set by the state and are typically far below development-land prices, providing significant relief for rural landowners. A conveyance tax penalty applies if the land is converted to another use within 10 years.
How to Appeal Your Connecticut Assessment
Step 1: Request an Informal Review
Before the formal appeal window, contact your town assessor directly. Many assessors will correct obvious data errors — wrong square footage, wrong bedroom count, incorrect property class — without a formal hearing. Bring your property card from the assessor’s portal and note any discrepancies.
Step 2: Board of Assessment Appeals (BOA)
Every Connecticut town has a Board of Assessment Appeals that meets annually. File your appeal application with the BOA by February 20 for the regular assessment list. For motor vehicles, the deadline is different. The BOA schedules a hearing, reviews your evidence (comparable sales, an independent appraisal), and issues a written decision. This is the most accessible and commonly used appeal level.
Step 3: Superior Court
If you disagree with the BOA’s decision, you may appeal to the Connecticut Superior Court within two months of the BOA’s decision. This is a formal legal proceeding and is most practical for high-value properties or cases involving systematic over-assessment. Many property owners in recently revalued cities use this path when the BOA provides inadequate relief.
Connecticut Property Tax Payment Schedule
Connecticut property taxes are billed on a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) and typically paid in two installments:
| Installment | Due Date | Covers | Interest After Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| First installment | July 1 | July – December | 1.5% per month (18%/year) |
| Second installment | January 1 | January – June | 1.5% per month (18%/year) |
Some towns bill the full amount in July for properties with an annual tax under a minimum threshold (typically $100). Interest on late payments accrues at 1.5% per month from the due date — one of the higher delinquency rates in the country. Payment is made to the local Tax Collector, not the assessor.
Payment Options
- Online through the town’s tax collector portal (most towns accept credit/debit with a convenience fee and e-check for free)
- By mail to the town tax collector (postmark by due date)
- In person at town hall or the tax collector’s office
- Drop box at town hall
Connecticut Parcel ID vs. Other Identifiers
| Identifier | Assigned By | What It Identifies |
|---|---|---|
| Map-Block-Lot / Account No. | Town Assessor | The parcel in the town assessment roll |
| Volume / Page | Town Clerk | The recorded deed document |
| Lot / Block / Map No. | Recorded subdivision map | Legal description in subdivision plan |
| FIPS Code | U.S. Census Bureau | CT county in federal datasets (09XXX) |
Search Connecticut Property Records by Town
Most Connecticut towns use Vision Government Solutions. Start with the OPM directory or search directly by town:
- All 169 towns (OPM directory) — portal.ct.gov — Municipal Assessors
- Bridgeport (Fairfield County) — gis.vgsi.com/bridgeportct
- Hartford (Hartford County) — Hartford Property Viewer
- New Haven (New Haven County) — gis.vgsi.com/newhavenct
- Stamford (Fairfield County) — gis.vgsi.com/stamfordct
- Waterbury (New Haven County) — gis.vgsi.com/waterburyct
- Norwalk (Fairfield County) — gis.vgsi.com/norwalkct
- Middletown (Middlesex County) — gis.vgsi.com/middletownct
- New London (New London County) — gis.vgsi.com/newlondonct
- Vision CT database (all Vision towns) — vgsi.com — CT Online Database
Bottom Line
Connecticut’s property tax system is governed at the town level — 169 separate assessors, 169 separate mill rates, and 169 separate appeal calendars. The one constant is the 70% assessment ratio, which makes it straightforward to check whether your town got your value right: divide your assessed value by 0.70, compare to what similar homes sold for, and if the math doesn’t work in your favor, file with the Board of Assessment Appeals by February 20. Claim the elderly tax relief or veterans’ exemption at your town assessor’s office — the application is simple and the savings are real. And if you’re evaluating towns to buy in, the mill rate difference between a distressed city and an affluent suburb can easily outweigh any purchase price advantage, so run the tax math before you commit.
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