07/22/26 — California State Board of Equalization Approves $169.7 Billion State-Assessed Property Roll for Fiscal Year 2026-27

California State Board of Equalization Approves $169.7 Billion State-Assessed Property Roll for Fiscal Year 2026-27
Final assessment roll allocates property tax revenues to California's 58 counties to support schools and local communities statewide.

What You Need to Know: The California State Board of Equalization approved the final lien date 2026 Board Roll of State-Assessed Property, totaling $169.7 billion, a 3.1% increase over the prior year's final roll. The completed roll establishes the final assessed values that counties use to levy property taxes supporting schools and local governments throughout California.

Sacramento - Today, the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) completed its annual assessment process by approving the lien date 2026 Board Roll of State-Assessed Property, totaling $169.7 billion for fiscal year 2026-27.

The adoption of the Board Roll completes the BOE's annual assessment process for California's state-assessed property. It incorporates the property values adopted by the Board in May, along with adjustments from audits, petitions, Board actions, and other required changes. It also includes non-unitary property, such as vacant land and other property not used in a company's primary operations. Together, these values make up the final Board Roll that is allocated to California's 58 counties for local property tax administration. The completed assessment roll is 3.1% higher than the final roll for fiscal year 2025-26.

"California's property tax system works because state and local governments each play a vital role. Strong communities depend on that system being fair, accurate, and dependable. Although much of this work happens behind the scenes, completing the annual Board Roll helps counties move forward with the property tax process that funds schools, emergency services, and the local government services Californians rely on every day."
BOE Chair Sally J. Lieber (2nd District)

While most property in California is assessed locally by County Assessors, the California Constitution requires the BOE to assess certain utility and transportation properties that operate across county lines. These include regulated railroads, telephone companies, electric and gas utilities, independent power producers, and intercounty pipelines.

Industry Groups

The Gas, Electric, and Water Companies industry group has the largest share (77%) of total state-assessed value at $130.7 billion, followed by Telecommunications Companies (Wireless) at $8.9 billion (5.2%). Telecommunications Companies (Voice over Internet Protocol [VoIP] is a new industry group assessed by BOE's State-Assessed Properties Division for 2026-27 and is valued at $606 million (0.4%). Railcar Maintenance Facilities has the lowest state-assessed value at $31.4 million (0.02%).

State-Assessed Properties: Values by Industry Group 2026-27

Pie chart for State-Assessed Properties: Values by Industry Group 2026-27: Gas, Electric, and Water Companies $130.7 billion; Telecommunications Companies (Local Exchange) $6.5 billion; Pipeline Companies $1.2 billion; Railcar Maintenance Facilities $31.4 million; Railroad Companies $6.3 billion; Electric Generation Facilities $7 billion; Telecommunications Companies (Interexchange) $8.5 billion; Telecommunications Companies (Wireless) $8.9 billion; Telecommunications Companies (VolP) $606 million.

Private Railroad Cars

The Board also approved the lien date 2026 assessment of private railroad cars and established the Private Railroad Car Tax rate at 1.157% for fiscal year 2026-27.

The private railroad car assessment is expected to generate approximately $13.2 million for California's General Fund.

Although fewer private railroad cars operated in California during the prior year, assessed values increased because federal law requires California to apply a higher assessment ratio (66.88%) for railroad property in 2026 than in 2025 (58.4%). This requirement, established under the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act (4-R Act), helps ensure railroad property is taxed similarly to other commercial and industrial property.

For additional information, including the complete 2026 Board Roll of State-Assessed Property, visit State-Assessed Properties Program and Private Railroad Car Program.

Values of State-Assessed Property by County
Lien Date - January 1, 2026

The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is the nation's only elected tax board. It includes four elected Board Members who represent equalization districts and the State Controller. Since 1879, the BOE has carried out its constitutional and statutory duties to support fair and equitable property tax administration in California. The BOE oversees the work of the state's 58 County Assessors to help ensure assessment practices are uniform statewide. The BOE also directly assesses the property of regulated railroads and certain public utilities. In addition, the BOE collects the Private Railroad Car Tax, and administers the Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Tax on Insurers programs. BOE's critical role in California's property tax system helps protect the tax revenues that schools, local communities, and the State depend on every day.

Board Members