Columbus Tax Abatement Condos

Many of Columbus’s newer condos, lofts and townhomes were built with a residential property tax abatement. An abatement can lower your monthly cost a lot while it lasts, so the years remaining, and what the taxes will be when it ends, belong in every condo decision. Here is how abatements work in Columbus and how the My Columbus Condo team checks them for you.

How a Columbus Residential Tax Abatement Works

The City of Columbus grants residential tax incentives through Community Reinvestment Areas (CRAs). With an abatement, the owner keeps paying property taxes on the value the property had before it was built or improved; the abatement applies only to the increase in value from the new construction or renovation, as determined by the County Auditor. City policy has generally offered 100% abatements for 15 years on qualifying projects, with affordability requirements in some parts of the city.

The city sorts eligible neighborhoods into three area designations, Market Ready, Ready for Revitalization and Ready for Opportunity, and also keeps several legacy CRAs, including Downtown, the Brewers District, Easton Square Place and Jeffrey Residential. Rules differ by area and by when the project was approved, so two buildings a few blocks apart can carry very different tax bills.

Does the Abatement Transfer When I Buy a Condo?

Yes. A tax abatement is attached to the property, not the owner, so when you buy an abated condo you keep whatever years remain. What matters is how many years are left. A unit with 12 years remaining and one with 1 year remaining can list at similar prices but cost very different amounts to own.

What to Check Before You Buy an Abated Condo

• Years remaining. Find the year the abatement started and when it ends.
• The full, unabated tax bill. Estimate taxes on the full value so you know your payment after the abatement ends.
• Which county. Columbus reaches into Franklin, Delaware and Fairfield counties, and each has its own auditor and tax rates.
• What the lender uses. Your lender qualifies you on the current tax bill. Matt Sheffey, our Condo Financing Specialist, can show you the payment both with and without the abatement.
• Resale value. When abatements expire across a building, prices can adjust. Ask us how similar units sold once their abatements ended.

How to Look Up a Condo’s Abatement

1. Look up the parcel on the Franklin County Auditor site (or the Delaware or Fairfield County Auditor) to see the current taxes and any abatement on the property.
2. Check whether the parcel is in a CRA on the City of Columbus CRA map.
3. For questions about a specific property, the city’s residential tax incentive staff can be reached at restaxabatement@columbus.gov or (614) 645-7896.
4. Or let us do it: our team pulls the abatement status, years left and full-tax estimate for every condo our buyers consider. Call (614) 675-2202.

Closing Costs to Plan For in Franklin County

In Franklin County the conveyance fee on a sale is $3 per $1,000 of the sale price ($1 to the State of Ohio and $2 to the county), customarily paid by the seller, plus a small transfer tax. At closing, the title company prorates the current property taxes, using the abated amount where an abatement applies, along with the condo fee and any special assessments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Columbus condo tax abatements last?

Many Columbus residential abatements run 15 years at 100% of the added value from construction or renovation, but the term depends on when and where the project was approved. Check the specific parcel on the County Auditor’s site, or ask us and we’ll pull it for you.

Do I keep the tax abatement if I buy a resale condo?

Yes. The abatement stays with the property, so a buyer keeps the remaining years. Always confirm how many years are left and estimate the taxes after it ends.

What happens when a condo’s tax abatement ends?

Your property taxes rise to the full amount based on the building’s assessed value, which can add hundreds of dollars a month. Plan for that payment before you buy so the change isn’t a surprise.

Are all new Columbus condos abated?

No. Abatements depend on the project’s location, approval date and, in some areas, affordability requirements. Some new buildings have them and others don’t, so check each property.

Who can tell me the full tax bill on an abated condo?

The County Auditor’s records show current taxes and the property’s full value. Our team and Matt Sheffey, our Condo Financing Specialist, will estimate your payment with and without the abatement so you can compare buildings fairly.

General information, not tax or legal advice. Programs and rates change; confirm details with the City of Columbus and the County Auditor. Sources: City of Columbus Department of Development, Residential Tax Incentives (checked October 2026); Franklin County Auditor conveyance fee calculator (checked October 2026).