Colonial Heights, Virginia Tax Rates

Colonial Heights' real estate tax rate was $1.200 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general tangible personal property tax rate was $3.500 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). The combined sales tax rate is 5.3%. Colonial Heights is an independent city in the Tri-Cities area of the greater Richmond region, separate from neighboring Chesterfield County and the City of Petersburg.

Rates verified May 2026. See our methodology for sourcing and update cadence.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $1.200 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with the City of Colonial Heights.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $3.500 per $100 (general tangible personal property rate, TY2025 per DOT survey). The Virginia DOT notes that vehicles may be classified as a separate class and taxed at a different rate. Confirm the current personal use vehicle rate with the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue.
  • PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. The annual relief percentage is set by the city and changes each year. Contact the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
  • Sales tax: 5.3% (4.3% state + 1.0% standard local). Note: Chesterfield County, from which the city was formed, is 6.0% in the Central Virginia region, but that higher rate does not apply inside Colonial Heights.
  • Machinery and Tools tax: $2.000 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT) - applies to business tangible personal property. Colonial Heights does not levy a merchants' capital tax.
  • Colonial Heights is an independent city, separated from Chesterfield County in 1948. The two are distinct jurisdictions with their own rates.
  • Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with the City of Colonial Heights. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Colonial Heights Tax Rates - At a Glance

Colonial Heights Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $1.200 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; verify current adopted rate with the City of Colonial Heights
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $3.500 per $100 General tangible personal property rate TY2025 per DOT survey; personal use vehicle rate may differ; PPTRA relief on first $20,000; verify current rate
Machinery and Tools $2.000 per $100 TY2025 per DOT survey (business tangible personal property)
Sales Tax 5.3% 4.3% state + 1.0% local; qualifying groceries 1.0%; Central Virginia's 6.0% does not apply in the Tri-Cities

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Colonial Heights' real estate tax rate was $1.200 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey. Colonial Heights is an independent city in the Tri-Cities area of the greater Richmond region, on the north bank of the Appomattox River across from Petersburg, and a regional retail hub. The rate is set annually by Colonial Heights City Council. Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3201, real estate is assessed at 100% of fair market value.

Verification note: The real estate rate is from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025). Rates are set annually and can change. Verify the current adopted rate at colonialheightsva.gov or by contacting the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue before making financial decisions.

Service Districts

Colonial Heights has no city service-district levies in the Virginia DOT Table 5 for tax year 2025. The base $1.200/$100 rate applies citywide.

Independent City Status

Colonial Heights is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction in Virginia. It separated from Chesterfield County to become an independent city in 1948 and is geographically bordered by, but legally and administratively separate from, Chesterfield County. If you live in Colonial Heights, your local property and vehicle taxes are set by the Colonial Heights city government, not by Chesterfield County. See Chesterfield County tax rates for the neighboring county and Petersburg tax rates for the neighboring city across the Appomattox River.

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Colonial Heights offers real estate tax relief for qualifying senior citizens and residents with disabilities. Disabled veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled may qualify for a full real estate tax exemption on their primary residence under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5. Contact the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue for current eligibility thresholds and procedures.

Source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source).

Vehicle Personal Property Tax

Rate and Assessment Method

Colonial Heights' general tangible personal property tax rate was $3.500 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503, localities assess vehicles using a recognized pricing guide as of January 1 of the tax year.

Important note on rate classification: The Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey reports the general tangible personal property rate. The DOT survey explicitly states that "certain items of property, including vehicles, may be considered separate classifications and may be taxed at a different tax rate." The current personal use vehicle rate in Colonial Heights may differ from the $3.500 general rate. Contact the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the rate that applies to your vehicle.

PPTRA Relief

Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), Code of Virginia § 58.1-3524, provides partial state-funded relief on the first $20,000 of assessed value for qualifying personal use vehicles. Virginia distributes a fixed annual block grant of $950 million among all localities. Colonial Heights calculates its annual PPTRA relief percentage based on its share of that grant and the total qualifying vehicle assessed value in the city. This percentage changes each year. For a deeper explanation of how PPTRA works, see our Virginia PPTRA explained guide.

PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue or visit colonialheightsva.gov to confirm the current-year vehicle personal property tax rate and PPTRA relief percentage.

Rate source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source).

Sales Tax

Rate and Composition

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Colonial Heights is 5.3%: the 4.3% Virginia state rate plus the 1.0% standard local rate. Colonial Heights does not levy an additional local sales tax. Per the current Virginia Tax sales tax rate table, Colonial Heights is in the 5.3% statewide-base group. This is a common point of confusion: Chesterfield County, from which the city was formed, belongs to the Central Virginia 6.0% sales tax region, but Colonial Heights is not part of that region, so the 6.0% rate does not apply inside the city. Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County are separate tax jurisdictions.

Colonial Heights Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
Component Rate
Virginia state rate 4.3%
Standard local rate 1.0%
Combined rate 5.3%

Qualifying food and personal hygiene items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% statewide rate. The applicable sales tax rate depends on where the sale occurs, not your city of residence.

Source: Virginia Department of Taxation - Retail Sales and Use Tax (tax.virginia.gov)

Virginia Tax Tools

Virginia Car Tax Calculator

Estimate your annual vehicle personal property tax. Note: Colonial Heights rates should be confirmed directly with the city before use.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your Colonial Heights annual real estate tax based on assessed value.

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate sales tax on purchases in Colonial Heights at the 5.3% combined rate.

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Other Virginia Jurisdictions

Colonial Heights sits in the Tri-Cities in the greater Richmond region. Compare nearby live jurisdictions:

For statewide context and a complete list of Virginia jurisdictions, see Virginia County Tax Rates.

Official Sources

  • City of Colonial Heights - Commissioner of the Revenue
    Official source for Colonial Heights real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, and payment schedules.
    colonialheightsva.gov
  • Virginia Department of Taxation - Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025
    Official statewide survey of real estate, tangible personal property, machinery and tools, and merchants' capital tax rates for all Virginia localities. Includes Colonial Heights in Table 2 (City Levies).
    tax.virginia.gov/local-tax-rates
  • Virginia Department of Taxation - Retail Sales and Use Tax
    Official source for Virginia sales tax rates by region, confirming Colonial Heights' 5.3% rate.
    tax.virginia.gov/retail-sales-and-use-tax
  • Code of Virginia § 58.1-3524 - Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA)
    Statutory authority for Virginia's vehicle personal property tax relief program.
    law.lis.virginia.gov - PPTRA statutory reference
  • Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503 - Assessment of Personal Property
    Statutory authority for vehicle assessment methodology in Virginia.
    law.lis.virginia.gov - § 58.1-3503

Tax rates are sourced from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025) and the Virginia Department of Taxation. Rates change annually - verify current figures with the City of Colonial Heights before making financial decisions. Data last verified: May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Colonial Heights property tax rate?

Colonial Heights' real estate tax rate was $1.200 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by Colonial Heights City Council; verify the current adopted rate at colonialheightsva.gov.

What is the Colonial Heights vehicle personal property tax rate?

Colonial Heights' general tangible personal property rate was $3.500 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT survey. The personal use vehicle rate may differ because Virginia localities can classify vehicles as a separate property class. PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Contact the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Colonial Heights, VA?

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Colonial Heights is 5.3% (4.3% Virginia state + 1.0% standard local). Chesterfield County, from which the city was formed, is 6.0% in the Central Virginia region, but Colonial Heights is not in that region, so the city sits in the 5.3% statewide-base group per the current Virginia Tax rate table.

Is Colonial Heights an independent city or part of Chesterfield County?

Colonial Heights is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction in Virginia. It separated from Chesterfield County to become an independent city in 1948 and now sets its own tax rates, separate from the county.

How does Colonial Heights compare to Petersburg and Chesterfield County for taxes?

Per the Virginia DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey, Colonial Heights' real estate rate is $1.200/$100, lower than Petersburg at $1.270/$100 and higher than Chesterfield County at $0.890/$100. On sales tax, Colonial Heights and Petersburg are both 5.3%, while Chesterfield County is 6.0% in the Central Virginia region. Each jurisdiction is a separate taxing authority.