Kitsap County Assessor's Newsletter March 2024

How to research an ingress and egress easement on your property:

The deed for your property might have easement language either at the end of the legal description or separately in your title report which lists easements, reservations, etc.

The Auditor File Number(s) noted with the easements can be used to locate documents that aren’t already found in your title report.

If the documents are dated between January 1987 and now, they can be found online at the Kitsap County Auditor's Public Records Search.  Records dated before January 1987 are not available online. To find those older documents that are not included in your title report, you should contact your title company for assistance OR contact the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office – Recording Department for assistance.

Utility easements:  Some utility easements are recorded and can be found through the same process as above. If no recorded documents are found, contacting the utility provider may offer more information.

My business closed (or sold), do I need to file a personal property listing?

It depends on when you closed or sold your business.  If you sold or closed your business on or after January 1 of this year, then yes, you need to file a personal property listing.  Personal property is assessed as of January 1 each year and the business reports equipment they had or were in control of as of that date.  There is a section on the listing to report that the business sold or has closed.  Be sure to complete this section so our office can either transfer the account to the new owner or schedule the account to be closed. Any taxes due will be billed by the Kitsap County Treasurer.

If you closed or sold your business prior to January 1 of this year or after you have filed this year’s personal property listing, it can be reported using the Kitsap County Treasurer’s Advance Tax Form.  This will notify us of the closure or sale and the Kitsap County Treasurer will bill the business any taxes due. We will schedule the account to be closed or transfer the account to the new owner based on the information provided on the form.

February election results:

Our February newsletter included information regarding how the elections would impact future property taxes and now we can report which ballot measures Kitsap County voters have passed.  The enrichment and operations levies for the Bremerton and Bainbridge Island School Districts passed, as did the bond for Bremerton and the technology levy for Bainbridge Island.  The bond for the North Kitsap School District and the enrichment and operations levy for the Central Kitsap School District have failed.  Central Kitsap School District has submitted a resolution to the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office for another enrichment and operations levy to be on the April 23, 2024, Special Election ballot.

Physical inspection update

Our October newsletter contained information on physical inspections and why they are done.  Our appraisers are currently conducting inspections in the Poulsbo area.  These inspections will be done in April.  Any changes to a property’s characteristics and value will be reflected on the Notice of Value that will be sent this summer.

If you want to check where the Assessor Office appraisers are currently inspecting or are wondering if one has already been to your area, you can check the inspection progress on the website at:  www.kitsap.gov/assessor.  Once there, click on the banner referencing physical inspections in Poulsbo.

Senior citizen and disabled persons exemption outreach

Do you belong to a group that would benefit from knowing more about the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Exemption?  If so and your group would like to host a meeting on this program, please let us know.  Staff can come and answer your questions.  Contact us at assessor@kitsap.gov or call (360) 337-7160.