*State law reference – Authority of city to provide for the exemption provided for in this chapter, Code of Virginia, § 58.1-3210.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section, unless another meaning shall clearly appear from the context:
"Affidavit"
shall mean the real estate tax exemption affidavit provided for in this chapter.
"Dwelling"
shall mean real estate which is the sole residence of an eligible person claiming exemption under this chapter, and shall include an improvement to real estate exempt pursuant to this chapter and the land upon which such improvement is situated so long as the improvement is used principally for other than a business purpose and is used to house or cover any motor vehicle classified pursuant to Sections 58.1-3503(A)(3) through (10) of the Code of Virginia; household goods classified pursuant to Section 58.1-3503(A)(14) of the Code of Virginia; or household goods exempted from personal property tax pursuant to Section 58.1-3504 of the Code of Virginia.
"Eligible person"
shall mean a person who is at least age 65, or permanently and totally disabled, who owns and occupies as their sole dwelling, real estate or real property (1) held by the eligible person alone or in conjunction with his spouse as tenant or tenants for life or joint lives, (2) held in a revocable inter vivos trust over which an eligible person or the eligible person and his spouse hold the power of revocation, or (3) held in an irrevocable trust under which an eligible person alone or in conjunction with his spouse possesses a life estate or an estate for joint lives or enjoys a continuing right of use or support. The term "eligible person" does not include any interest held under a leasehold or term of years.
"Exemption"
shall mean the percentage exemption from the real property tax imposed by the city allowable under the provisions of this chapter.
"Permanently and totally disabled"
shall mean unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or deformity which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for the duration of the person's life.
"Taxable year"
shall mean the calendar year, from January 1st through December 31st, for which real property tax is imposed or exemption is claimed.
(Code 1964 § 10-72; Code 1985 § 12-92; Ord. 2018-16; Ord. 2019-35)
It is hereby declared to be the purpose of this chapter to provide real estate tax exemptions for eligible persons. Pursuant to the authority of Section 58.1-3210 of the Code of Virginia, the city council finds and declares that eligible persons hereunder are bearing an extraordinary real estate tax burden in relation to the circumstances of their income and financial worth.
(Code 1964 § 10-73; Code 1985 § 12-93; Ord. 2019-35)
Exemption pursuant to this chapter shall be granted to eligible persons as to their dwelling when:
(1) 
The total combined income received from all sources during the preceding calendar year by (a) owners of the dwelling who use it as their principal residence, (b) owners' relatives who live in the dwelling, except for those relatives living in the dwelling and providing bona fide caregiving services to the owner whether such relatives are compensated or not, and (c) nonrelatives of the owner who live in the dwelling except for bona fide tenants or bona fide caregivers of the owner, whether compensated or not, does not exceed the sum of $50,000; provided, however, that the first $2,500 of income of each relative, other than the spouse of the owner, who is living in such dwelling shall not be included in such total. If an individual described in subsections (1)(b) and (c) of this section is permanently and totally disabled, any disability income received by such person shall not be included in such total.
(2) 
The net combined financial worth, including equitable interests, as of December 31st of the immediately preceding calendar year, of the owners and of the spouse of any owner, excluding the value of the dwelling and the land, not exceeding one acre, upon which it is situated, does not exceed $80,000.
(Code 1964 § 10-74; Code 1985 § 12-94; Ord. 2-24-83; Ord. 7-28-88; Ord. 4-12-90; Ord. 9-10-98; Ord. 2005-19; Ord. 2007-12; Ord. 2010-02; Ord. 2011-19; Ord. 2018-16; Ord. 2019-35; Ord. 2023-03; Ord. 2025-03)
The commissioner of revenue shall make such inquiry of persons seeking exemption under this chapter, requiring answers under oath, as may be reasonably necessary to determine qualifications for the exemption and may require the production of certified tax returns to establish the income or financial worth of any applicant.
(Code 1964 § 10-75; Code 1985 § 12-95)
(1) 
A person claiming an exemption under this chapter shall file annually with the commissioner of revenue, on forms supplied by the city, an affidavit setting forth the names of the related persons occupying such real estate and that the total combined net worth, including equitable interests, and the combined income from all sources, of the persons specified in SCC § 3.15.040 does not exceed the limits prescribed in this chapter.
(2) 
If the person filing an affidavit under this section is under 65 years of age, the affidavit shall have attached thereto a certification by the social security administration, the veteran's administration or the railroad retirement board, or if such person is not eligible for certification by any of these agencies, a sworn affidavit by two medical doctors licensed to practice medicine in the commonwealth, to the effect that such person is permanently and totally disabled, as defined in SCC § 3.15.010. The affidavit of at least one of such doctors shall be based upon a physical examination of such person by such doctor. The affidavit of one of such doctors may be based upon medical information contained in the records of the civil service commission which is relevant to the standards for determining permanent and total disability as so defined.
(3) 
The affidavit required by this section shall be filed after February 1st of each year, but before May 1st.
(4) 
The commissioner of revenue, after audit and investigation of affidavits submitted under this section, shall certify and submit a list of the persons and property qualifying for exemption and the amount thereof to the city assessor's office, the chief finance officer and the city treasurer, who shall forthwith deduct the amounts of such exemptions from the real estate tax chargeable for the taxable year to such persons and property.
(Code 1964 § 10-75; Code 1985 § 12-96)
The amount of the exemption granted by this chapter is as follows:
SCHEDULE OF RELIEF
Single Property Owner or Property Owner and Spouse
Net Combined Financial Worth
Gross Combined Income
$0 – $80,000
$0 – $27,500
100%
$27,501 – $35,000
75%
$35,001 – $42,500
50%
$42,501 – $50,000
25%
(Code 1964 § 10-76; Code 1985 § 12-97; Ord. 2-24-83; Ord. 2-27-86; Ord. 4-12-90; Ord. 9-10-98; Ord. 2005-19; Ord. 2007-12; Ord. 2023-03; Ord. 2025-03)
Changes in respect to income, financial worth, ownership of property, or other factors, occurring during the taxable year for which an affidavit is filed under this chapter, and having the effect of violating or exceeding limitations and conditions of this chapter, shall nullify any exemption for the balance of the then current taxable year measured from the date such nullifying change occurred, and for the taxable year immediately following; provided, however, that no change in income or financial worth which does not have the effect of violating the maximum limitations of this chapter shall operate to increase or decrease the percentage of exemption previously determined by the commissioner of revenue pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Code 1964 § 10-77; Code 1985 § 12-98; Ord. 4-12-90)
Failure to pay the difference between the exemption under this chapter and the full amount of taxes levied on the property for which the exemption is granted by the deadline established for payment of real estate taxes shall constitute a forfeiture of the exemption.
(Code 1964 § 10-78; Code 1985 § 12-99)
Any person falsely claiming an exemption under this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Cross reference – Penalty for Class 3 misdemeanor, SCC § 1.05.100.
(Code 1964 § 10-79; Code 1985 § 12-100)
(1) 
The commissioner of revenue, notwithstanding the provisions of SCC § 3.15.050(3) hereof, may grant an exception to the dates of filing of the affidavit required by SCC § 3.15.050(3) to allow a later filing within the calendar year concerned for first-time applicants.
(2) 
Where a person has previously qualified for the exemption provided in this chapter, but has failed to file the affidavit necessary to qualify for any subsequent year within the time required by SCC § 3.15.050 hereof, the commissioner, upon a showing of undue hardship, may or not, in the absolute discretion of the commissioner, grant an exception to the date of filing required by SCC § 3.15.050(3). If such late filing is permitted by the commissioner, it shall be limited to the particular year the late filing request is made and for the immediately preceding tax year and no other. If the commissioner grants the exception and allows the late filing, the grant of the exception to late filing is conditioned upon any delinquent taxes plus penalty and interest attributable to said property being paid by the property owner within 10 days of the grant of exception. If the property owner fails to do so, the exception for late filing shall be deemed rescinded without further action. In such case where the delinquent taxes are paid within the time set forth above, the taxes for the year of the application for late filing and for the immediately preceding year, and no other, shall be credited with the exemption for purposes of measuring the taxes due, penalty and interest.
(Code 1985 § 12-101; Ord. 11-10-94; Ord. 7-28-88)