Burnaby property tax bills for 2026 are due July 3, 2026, and reflect a 2.9% municipal tax increase plus a separate 1.9% Growth Infrastructure Investment Levy approved by City Council. Together, those changes add about $100 to the average home’s bill compared with last year.1City of Burnaby. Burnaby Keeps Tax Rates Affordable With Latest Financial Plan Miss the deadline, or forget to claim the Home Owner Grant by that date, and a 5% penalty is applied to the unpaid balance.2City of Burnaby. Property Taxes
How Your Bill Is Calculated
Each year, Burnaby City Council sets a mill rate based on the revenue the budget requires. Your assessed value, provided by BC Assessment, is multiplied by that rate and divided by 1,000 to produce the municipal portion of your tax.3City of Burnaby. Property Tax Estimator – Residential Properties of equal value contribute equal tax; higher-value properties pay more.4BC Assessment. Understanding the Assessment Process
That municipal charge is only part of what appears on your notice. Provincial legislation requires Burnaby to collect on behalf of the Province of BC, TransLink, Metro Vancouver, BC Assessment, and the Municipal Finance Authority.2City of Burnaby. Property Taxes Council has no say over what those agencies charge, so your total bill can rise even in a year when the city holds its own rate steady.
For 2026, the 2.9% municipal increase adds roughly $61 to the average home’s bill, and the 1.9% Growth Infrastructure Investment Levy adds about another $39.1City of Burnaby. Burnaby Keeps Tax Rates Affordable With Latest Financial Plan
The July 3 Deadline and the 5% Penalty
Notices go out in early June. Payment for the 2026 tax year is due July 3, 2026, and any outstanding balance after that date is hit with a 5% penalty.2City of Burnaby. Property Taxes A mailed cheque that arrives on July 4 counts as late, so give the post office room.
The most common way people end up owing a penalty they didn’t expect: the Home Owner Grant. Claiming the grant counts as paying that portion of your bill. If you’re eligible but haven’t claimed it by July 3, the city treats the grant amount as unpaid and applies the 5% penalty to it.2City of Burnaby. Property Taxes Claim the grant even if you’re not sending money.
The BC Home Owner Grant
The Home Owner Grant is a provincial credit that reduces your property tax bill if the property is your principal residence. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, ordinarily reside in British Columbia, and occupy the home.5BC Laws. Home Owner Grant Act
In Metro Vancouver, which includes Burnaby, the regular grant is $570. Seniors 65 or older, veterans, and persons with disabilities may qualify for a larger additional grant in place of the regular amount.6Province of British Columbia. Home Owner Grant
The Assessed Value Threshold
The grant begins to shrink once your assessed value passes $2,075,000. Above that line, it is reduced by $5 for every $1,000 of value. A home assessed at $2,175,000 loses $500 of the grant.6Province of British Columbia. Home Owner Grant Given Burnaby values, check your BC Assessment notice before assuming you’ll receive the full amount.
Claiming a Missed Grant
If you forgot to claim last year’s grant, you can still apply retroactively. The application must be received by December 31 of the current year to claim the previous year’s grant. You must have been the registered owner on December 31 of the year being claimed, and no one else can have claimed the grant on that property for that year. You’ll need the property’s jurisdiction and roll number plus your social insurance number.7Province of British Columbia. Retroactive Home Owner Grant
Deferring Your Property Tax
If paying the full bill in July isn’t practical, the provincial Property Tax Deferment Program lets qualifying owners have the Province pay the taxes and register a lien on the property. The balance and interest are repaid when the home is sold or transferred.8Province of British Columbia. Property Tax Deferment Program
There are two streams:
- Regular program, for homeowners aged 55 or older, surviving spouses, and persons with disabilities.
- Families with children program, for parents, stepparents, or anyone financially supporting a child under 18 (or an adult child in school or with a disability). You must keep at least 15% equity in the property.9Province of British Columbia. Property Tax Deferment Program Eligibility
Both streams require Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, registered ownership, and at least one year of BC residency. All prior years’ taxes, penalties, and interest must be paid before you can apply.9Province of British Columbia. Property Tax Deferment Program Eligibility
Run the numbers before enrolling. Starting in 2026, the program charges compound interest at 2% above prime, compounded monthly on the 23rd. Under the old rules, simple interest at prime minus 2% applied.10Province of British Columbia. Interest and Fees for Property Tax Deferment Over a long deferment, that adds up.
Ways to Pay
Your tax notice includes a folio number and access code, printed below your name and address. You’ll need both to pay and to register for the city’s online property portal.11City of Burnaby. How to Pay If you can’t find your notice, contact Revenue Services for a replacement.
- Online banking: choose the City of Burnaby property tax payee as listed by your bank, and allow enough time for the payment to clear before July 3.11City of Burnaby. How to Pay
- Mail: send a cheque to the Tax Office at 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby. Late-arriving mail still triggers the 5% penalty.2City of Burnaby. Property Taxes
- Drop box: cheques can be left at City Hall after hours.11City of Burnaby. How to Pay
- Pre-authorized debit: the city runs a plan that spreads payments over the year so you don’t face a single July charge.11City of Burnaby. How to Pay
A rejected online payment or a cheque that arrives on July 4 is treated the same as not paying.11City of Burnaby. How to Pay
If You Think Your Assessment Is Wrong
The assessed value that drives your tax comes from BC Assessment, not the city. For the 2026 assessment year, the deadline to file a complaint with the Property Assessment Review Panel was February 2, 2026; in most years it is January 31.12BC Assessment. Appeals If that window has closed, your assessment is locked in for the current tax year, but you can prepare for next January.
BC Assessment recommends calling the local office first, since many disagreements resolve without a hearing. If they don’t, you file a complaint online and receive a 30-minute panel hearing.13Province of British Columbia. Property Assessment Review Panel Typical grounds include physical problems not reflected in the value, a belief the assessment exceeds market price, or evidence that comparable nearby homes are assessed lower.14Property Assessment Appeal Board. Single Family Residential Guide
Utility Fees Are Billed Separately
Water, sewer, and waste collection charges are not part of your property tax bill. They’re invoiced on a separate cycle and cover both service delivery and infrastructure replacement, along with Metro Vancouver’s water and sewer costs. Most residential properties pay flat rates; some commercial properties are metered.15City of Burnaby. Utility Fees and Charges One item to watch: 2026 is the last year the Sewer Parcel Tax appears on the property tax notice. From 2027 onward, water and sewer charges will be consolidated on the utility bill.