Tax Exemption Program Guidelines
Application - PDF
To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must provide the following:
- Completed Application Form;
- Evidence of Site Control;
- Evidence of Financial Capacity;
- Evidence of need for additional affordable housing in the area.
An application will not be considered complete until evidence of site control and financial capacity, together with a market study are provided. Once a completed application is received, Harris County will consider the request within 60 days of its receipt.
If, in the opinion of the Community Services Department (CSD), there is not substantiated need for the type of housing proposed in the subject area, it will recommend that Commissioners Court deny the requested exemption.
If, in the opinion of CSD, such a need does exist, then a recommendation will be made for a “standard” 25% ad valorem tax exemption.
In certain cases, an enhanced exemption of 50% will be recommended. In order to qualify for this exemption, an applicant must:
- Hold a Public Hearing for the subject project; regardless of whether such a hearing was required by any state agency or program. Notice must be provided to CSD.
- Notices must have been sent at least two weeks in advance of the public hearing to all community groups within a 1 mile radius of the proposed project site. A County representative from the CSD department must attend the Public Hearing.
- The project must be properly characterized. For example, if a project is described as a “seniors project,” it’s occupancy must be limited to seniors and such must be contained in its bond covenants or loan documents.
- There should be no objections from any business or resident within the 1 mile radius.
To be recommended by Harris County’s Community Services Department for approval of an Enhanced Affordable Housing Exemption from Commissioners Court, an applicant must submit appropriate documentation evidencing that it has performed the required steps enumerated above.
Notice of the County’s actions will be sent to the applicant and Chief appraiser within 5 days of Commissioners Court action.
