Cumberland County property taxes in 2026: rates, revaluation, and what you'll pay

For fiscal year 2027 (July 2026 through June 2027), Cumberland County's property tax rate is 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed value, and the City of Fayetteville's rate is 44.95 cents per $100. Inside Fayetteville city limits, that adds up to about 94.85 cents per $100, so a home assessed at $250,000 pays about $2,371 a year before any exemptions.

What are the 2026 property tax rates in Cumberland County and Fayetteville?

Here are the current rates for the tax year that began July 1, 2026:

• Cumberland County: 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed value, unchanged from fiscal year 2026

• City of Fayetteville: 44.95 cents per $100, also unchanged

• Combined inside city limits: about 94.85 cents per $100, plus any fire or special district rate that applies

If you live in unincorporated Cumberland County, you pay the county rate plus a fire district rate, but no city rate. If you live in another town, you pay the county rate plus that town's rate.

What changed with the 2025 revaluation?

Cumberland County completed a countywide revaluation in 2025. Revaluation resets assessed values to reflect the market. Because home prices had risen a lot in recent years, most assessed values went up.

To offset that, the county cut its rate by 30 cents for fiscal year 2026, from 79.9 cents to 49.9 cents per $100. Whether your bill went up or down depended on how much your home's value rose compared to the county overall. Homes whose values jumped the most generally saw larger bills. North Carolina requires counties to reappraise property at least every eight years.

How do you calculate your property tax bill?

The formula is simple: assessed value divided by 100, times the rate. Use the combined rate if you are inside city limits. Here are examples for homes inside the City of Fayetteville, before exemptions:

• $150,000 home: county $748.50 + city $674.25 = about $1,422.75 a year

• $250,000 home: county $1,247.50 + city $1,123.75 = about $2,371.25 a year (about $198 a month)

• $350,000 home: county $1,746.50 + city $1,573.25 = about $3,319.75 a year

For a $250,000 home in unincorporated Cumberland County, the county portion is $1,247.50, plus the fire district tax for that area. That gap between city and county-only bills is one reason buyers should confirm exactly where a home sits before comparing prices.

Do towns and fire districts have different rates?

Yes. Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Eastover, and the county's other towns each set their own municipal rate. Unincorporated areas are served by fire districts with their own rates. Some areas also have special district taxes.

Homes across the county line are a different story. Raeford is in Hoke County, which has its own tax rates. The most reliable way to see every rate that applies to a parcel is to look up the property's current tax bill through Cumberland County Tax Administration, or the Hoke County tax office for homes there.

When are property taxes due in North Carolina?

North Carolina property taxes are due September 1 and can be paid without interest through January 5. If you have a mortgage with an escrow account, your lender usually collects the tax monthly and pays the bill for you. When a new bill comes out after a revaluation, your escrow payment may change at the next escrow review.

How are property taxes handled at closing?

Tax bills are prorated between buyer and seller at closing. Each side pays for the part of the year they own the home, using the dates and terms in the purchase contract.

For example, a home assessed at $300,000 inside city limits has a yearly bill of about $2,845.50. If the seller has not paid that bill yet, the seller credits the buyer for the seller's share, and the bill is paid at or after closing. If the seller already paid it, the buyer reimburses the seller for the buyer's share. The closing attorney calculates the exact amounts.

What property tax relief is available in Cumberland County?

North Carolina offers a disabled veteran homestead exclusion. It removes up to the first $45,000 of appraised value of a permanent residence from taxation for honorably discharged veterans with a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability. Unmarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may also qualify. On a $250,000 home inside Fayetteville, excluding $45,000 lowers the yearly bill by about $427, from about $2,371 to about $1,944.

North Carolina also has relief programs for some older adults and people with disabilities, with income and other requirements. These programs generally require an application. Rules and deadlines change, so confirm eligibility and how to apply with Cumberland County Tax Administration before you count on any savings.

What do these taxes mean for buyers, owners, and landlords?

For buyers, property taxes are part of the monthly payment along with principal, interest, insurance, and any HOA dues. Ask your lender to use the actual tax rate for the home's location, not an average.

For landlords, taxes are an operating cost that rent has to cover. When I set up a rental budget for an owner, I start with the current tax bill for that parcel, not last year's bill and not a countywide estimate. Rental property taxes are generally reported with rental income on Schedule E. Talk to a tax professional about your situation.

For anyone who disagrees with an assessed value, Cumberland County Tax Administration can explain the appeal process and current deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Fayetteville, NC?

For fiscal year 2027, inside Fayetteville city limits you pay about 94.85 cents per $100 of assessed value: 49.9 cents to Cumberland County and 44.95 cents to the city, plus any fire or special district rate.

How much are property taxes on a $300,000 home in Fayetteville?

About $2,845.50 a year inside city limits before exemptions. Outside the city, the county portion is $1,497 plus the fire district tax.

Did property taxes go up after the 2025 revaluation?

It depends on the home. Values rose, and the county cut its rate by 30 cents to 49.9 cents per $100. Homes whose values rose more than average generally saw higher bills.

Do disabled veterans get a property tax break in North Carolina?

Yes. Honorably discharged veterans with a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability can exclude up to the first $45,000 of their home's appraised value. Apply and confirm details with Cumberland County Tax Administration.

Who pays property taxes in the year a home sells?

Both. Taxes are prorated at closing so the seller pays for the time they owned the home and the buyer pays for the rest.

Buying and want to see the full monthly cost before you make an offer? Get the free Home Buyer's Guide. Own a rental? The free Property Owner's Guide covers budgeting for taxes and more. Call or text me at 910-718-9733 with any address and I will help you figure out what applies.

About the author

Jesse Dickenson is a REALTOR® and the Property Manager at Brookdale Property Management LLC in Fayetteville, NC (NC broker license #368428). A U.S. Air Force veteran with three PCS moves behind him, he helps buyers, sellers, and rental owners across Cumberland County and the Fort Bragg area. Call or text 910-718-9733, 7 days a week.