Lexington property tax: where it goes
A Lexington house pays 1.26% of its taxable value in property tax. For a house at $293,500 of market value, that's about $3,698 a year.
Tax is levied on fair cash value assessed by the Fayette County PVA as of January 1, less any exemptions, taxed per $100 of assessed value.
All rates are from the Fayette County PVA's 2026 tax rate table. The school rate of 79.7 cents is the figure in that table and matches the administration's recommended "4% rate" (down from 79.8 cents); we did not find the school board's September 10 vote or its minutes, so we could not confirm the adopted rate independently.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $293,500 |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth of Kentucky (state rate) | 0.103% | $302 |
| Fayette County Public Schools (schools) | 0.797% | $2,339 |
| Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (general services) | 0.075% | $220 |
| Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (full urban services: waste collection, street lights, street cleaning) | 0.173% | $508 |
| Lextran (public transit) | 0.06% | $176 |
| Lexington-Fayette County Health Department | 0.0243% | $71 |
| Park Fund | 0.0225% | $66 |
| Fayette County Extension District | 0.004% | $12 |
| Fayette County Soil & Water Conservation District | 0.001% | $3 |
| Total | 1.26% | $3,698 |
2026 tax year, Fayette County.
Ways to pay less
- Seniors 65+ or totally disabled: homestead exemption. Owners who will be 65 or older during the year, or who are classified as totally disabled and receive disability payments, can take $49,100 (the 2026 amount) off the assessed value of the home they own and live in as their primary residence. Disabled applicants must keep the disability classification for the entire calendar year. Only one exemption is allowed per residence. How: Send the one-page application with proof of age or disability to the Fayette County PVA by fax, email or mail (101 E. Vine Street, Suite 600); call (859) 246-2722 ext 238 for a mailed application.
- Pay your property tax by November 1 for a 2% discount. Fayette County tax bills paid from October 1 through November 1, 2026 get a 2% discount; from November 2 the face amount is due. How: Pay online, by mail to the Fayette County Sheriff (PO Box 34148, Lexington, KY 40588-4148), in person at the Sheriff's office, or at a Lexington Republic Bank lobby until January 31.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Oct 1 – Nov 1 (today) | Pay the property tax bill with a 2% discount. |
| Nov 2 – Dec 31 (in 10 days) | Pay the property tax bill at the face amount. |
| Jan 1 – Jan 31 | Unpaid property tax bills are paid with a 5% penalty. |
| Feb 1 – Apr 15 | Unpaid property tax bills carry a 10% penalty plus a 10% add-on; bills not paid by April 15, 2027 become delinquent with a 21% penalty and go to the Fayette County Clerk. |
| May (open inspection) | Contest your assessment with the PVA before the open inspection period ends; in 2026 that was May 18, with appeals to the Local Board of Tax Appeals through the County Clerk by May 20. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- Fayette County PVA: Tax Districts Calculator and 2026 tax rates
- WBKO: Kentucky state real property tax rate drops to 10.3 cents for 2026
- Kentucky Department of Education: Tax rates levied 2025-26 (XLSX)
- Fayette County PVA: Homestead exemption
- Fayette County PVA: Assessments & appeals
- Fayette County Sheriff: Property tax FAQ
Checked October 22, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.
Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.