ORANGE COUNTY — October 26, 2026. Property owners whose homes or other real estate suffered damage from recent fires or coastal flooding may qualify for relief from their 2026–27 secured property tax bills, according to a new October 20 notice published by Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich.

First step: request reassessment

The county instructs affected owners to file an Application for Reassessment of Property Damaged by Misfortune or Calamity with the Orange County Assessor. The Assessor—not the Treasurer acting alone—determines whether the parcel qualifies for reassessment and whether the owner is eligible for a property-tax payment deferral. Approval is not automatic merely because someone lives in an area affected by a storm.

What happens if the request is approved?

For an eligible property, the first installment of 2026–27 secured property tax can be deferred without penalty or interest until reassessment is completed and the county mails a corrected tax bill. The county states that the adjusted taxes are then due 30 days after the revised bill is mailed. The notice says penalties on the original bill can be cancelled for approved applications.

Importantly, a temporarily delinquent amount or penalty may still appear on an online property-tax account until the new bill is issued. Owners should obtain confirmation of their own approval rather than assume an online balance is automatically erased. People whose properties were not affected should not interpret the program as a countywide postponement of the ordinary December 10 deadline.

Where to get official guidance

Orange County directs residents to the Treasurer’s disaster-related tax guidance, the Assessor’s office and the county emergency updates page for conditions and required forms. Tax determinations depend on individual property circumstances and official rulings.

Primary source: Orange County Treasurer announcement, October 20, 2026: disaster impact on property tax payments. This is public guidance, not personalized tax advice.

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