Pennsylvania · York County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

York County, PA property tax exemptions (2026)

The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in York County, on top of Pennsylvania’s statewide rules: what each is worth here, who qualifies, where to apply and the deadline.

What is different in York County

The state-funded homestead/farmstead school tax relief in York County depends on your school district: PDE estimates it at $157 to $968 a year per approved home for 2025-26 across 16 districts. You apply once with the York County Assessment & Tax Claim Office by March 1; other exemptions follow the statewide rules.

Apply at
York County Assessment & Tax Claim Office
Phone
717-771-9232
Local breaks
Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006)
Tax year
2025-26

Where to apply in York County

York County Assessment & Tax Claim Office

Phone
717-771-9232
Address
28 East Market Street, Room 110, York, PA 17401
Official exemptions page

Other offices

Local exemptions in York County

Homestead

Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006)

Varies by school district. PDE estimates 2025-26 school tax relief per approved homestead from $157 (West Shore SD) to $968 (York City SD) across the 16 districts PDE lists under York County (median $290). The actual amount is calculated by each district and shown on your school tax bill; see the table of districts.

Set by
school district (state program, local amount)
Tax year
2025-26
Who qualifies
You own the home and it is your permanent primary residence. Farmstead: farm buildings used for agriculture on a farm of 10 or more contiguous acres. No age or income test.
How to apply
File the Homestead/Farmstead application with the York County Assessment & Tax Claim Office, 28 East Market Street, Room 110, York, PA 17401, by March 1. Your school district mails applications to owners who are not yet enrolled; you can also get the form from the county office.
Deadline
March 1 for the school tax year that starts July 1
Renewal
One-time: once approved you do not reapply unless ownership changes or you move. Tell the assessment office within 45 days if the home stops being your primary residence.

Source: official page

Amounts by taxing unit in York County

Each school district, city or other taxing unit can set its own amount. Find the ones on your tax bill.

Sort:
Taxing unitTypeHomestead break per homeApproved homesteads 2025-26 (number of homes)State allocation 2026-27 (whole-district total, not per home)Source
Central York SDschool district$209 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)8,950$1,862,447 for the whole district (not per home)official
Dallastown Area SDschool district$236 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)10,250$2,432,522 for the whole district (not per home)official
Dover Area SDschool district$349 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)6,386$2,226,830 for the whole district (not per home)official
Eastern York SDschool district$263 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)4,918$1,276,327 for the whole district (not per home)official
Hanover Public SDschool district$323 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)3,103$1,000,299 for the whole district (not per home)official
Northeastern York SDschool district$358 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)6,275$2,249,206 for the whole district (not per home)official
Northern York County SDschool district$199 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)6,365$1,271,753 for the whole district (not per home)official
Red Lion Area SDschool district$345 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)9,600$3,308,516 for the whole district (not per home)official
South Eastern SDschool district$320 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)5,436$1,735,739 for the whole district (not per home)official
South Western SDschool district$258 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)7,590$1,955,306 for the whole district (not per home)official
Southern York County SDschool district$316 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)5,863$1,855,889 for the whole district (not per home)official
Spring Grove Area SDschool district$220 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)7,939$1,754,204 for the whole district (not per home)official
West Shore SDschool district$157 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)14,393$2,262,669 for the whole district (not per home)official
West York Area SDschool district$335 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)5,527$1,857,803 for the whole district (not per home)official
York City SDschool district$968 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)4,819$4,666,369 for the whole district (not per home)official
York Suburban SDschool district$228 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26)5,118$1,155,964 for the whole district (not per home)official

State exemptions that also apply here

These breaks come from Pennsylvania law. Their full rules, forms and deadlines are on the Pennsylvania page.

All Pennsylvania property tax exemptions

By group in Pennsylvania: Seniors · Veterans · Disability · Surviving spouses

Savings estimate for York County

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

York County median effective rate: 1.54% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate in York County: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, county figures as published by Tax Foundation. It is a county-wide middle value; rates differ by town and school district.

An estimate, not a bill. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Eligibility finder for York County

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for York County

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

The checklist asks for no personal details and nothing is sent to our server: the files are made on your device.

Exemptions to include

Questions about property tax exemptions in York County

What property tax exemptions are there in York County?

The state-funded homestead/farmstead school tax relief in York County depends on your school district: PDE estimates it at $157 to $968 a year per approved home for 2025-26 across 16 districts. You apply once with the York County Assessment & Tax Claim Office by March 1; other exemptions follow the statewide rules. Local breaks here: Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006).

Where do I apply for a property tax exemption in York County?

York County Assessment & Tax Claim Office Phone: 717-771-9232 Address: 28 East Market Street, Room 110, York, PA 17401. Also: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Property Tax Relief, which state program: sets each school district's yearly property tax reduction allocation.

When is the deadline to apply in York County?

Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006): March 1 for the school tax year that starts July 1.

Do I have to reapply every year in York County?

Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006): One-time: once approved you do not reapply unless ownership changes or you move. Tell the assessment office within 45 days if the home stops being your primary residence.

Do Pennsylvania’s statewide exemptions apply in York County too?

Yes. The statewide breaks on our Pennsylvania page apply here as well, for example Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion (Taxpayer Relief Act), Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption. This page adds what York County sets or runs itself.

Good to know in York County

  • If your school district is not in the table, PDE lists it under a neighboring county (a district that crosses county lines appears under one county only); the application still goes to the assessment office of the county where your home is.
  • PDE's per-homestead figures are estimates; each district calculates the actual reduction and must show it on the school tax bill as a "Notice of Property Tax Relief".

Think your assessed value is too high? See how to appeal in York County.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.