Maui property owners are about to get an official wake-up call from the county. Real Property Assessment Division notices are scheduled to land in mailboxes by March 15, laying out this year’s assessed land value, improvements and exemptions. The mailers are informational, not bills, but they start the countdown: anyone who thinks the county got their numbers or classifications wrong has until April 9, 2026, to challenge the assessment with the Board of Review. The notices also flag a Lahaina-only tax break that could matter for parcels affected by the August 2023 wildfires.
According to the County of Maui, each notice spells out the taxable land value, any building or other improvements, exemptions that apply, who receives those exemptions, and the property’s tax classification. Owners can choose to go paperless for future years. The county stresses that the assessment notice is not a tax bill. The first half of the 2026-2027 property tax installment is expected to be mailed by July 20, 2026. For questions, the Real Property Assessment Division lists a phone number, (808) 270-7297, and an email address, [email protected]. If a notice never shows up, owners are directed to mauipropertytax.com to use the lookup tools and access forms.
Which Lahaina parcels qualify
Under Ordinance 5913, certain properties inside the county’s Lahaina reentry zones may qualify for a real property tax exemption from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028 if they meet specific criteria. The break can apply when a property cannot be occupied because public infrastructure or utilities are not yet restored, when a parcel was completely destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires and remains vacant, or when a building permit was issued after August 8, 2023 but final inspection approval has not been granted. The ordinance was crafted to keep tax relief in place while rebuilding and infrastructure work continue in West Maui.
How to appeal
Owners who want to dispute an assessed value, land classification or exemption have until April 9, 2026 to file an appeal with the Board of Review. Appeals generally require the county’s appeal form plus supporting documentation. The Real Property Assessment Division’s web pages explain the appeal process step by step, list the necessary forms and outline how to submit them. Owners can also sign up for notifications about key deadlines. For procedural questions, or to arrange in-person assistance at the Kahului office, the county directs people to the RPA contact information and office hours on its site.
Local coverage of the county’s March 4-5 announcement highlighted the same basic message for owners: read the notice carefully and do not sit on it if something looks off. For the complete county release, refer to the Real Property Assessment Division notice and review the ordinance if you think your Lahaina property could be eligible for the wildfire-related exemption. Those with complicated ownership situations or rebuilding timelines may want to gather paperwork early and, if needed, talk with a tax professional before the April 9 deadline arrives.
