| 2026 tax | Rate or amount |
|---|---|
| Cherokee County M&O | 5.712 mills |
| Cherokee County School District | 17.95 mills (16.45 M&O + 1.5 bond) |
| City of Canton M&O (inside city limits) | 5.25 mills |
| City of Woodstock M&O (inside city limits) | 5.13 mills + 0.52 parks bond |
| Typical Canton tax bill | About $3,700 a year (about $309/month) |
| County bill due date | November 15 |
Short answer: most Canton homeowners pay somewhere around 0.7% to 1% of their home’s value a year in property taxes. The typical Canton bill is about $3,700 a year (about $309 a month) on a home worth around $450,000. Cherokee County bills are due November 15.
Your exact number depends on three things: what the county says your home is worth, whether you’re inside city limits, and which exemptions you’ve filed. Here’s how it works, in plain English.
How does Cherokee County figure my property tax bill?
Georgia taxes homes on 40% of fair market value. So on a $500,000 home, the “assessed value” is $200,000. Your exemptions come off that number. Then each taxing body (county, schools, fire, and your city if you’re in one) applies its millage rate. One mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.
A few of this year’s rates:
- Cherokee County M&O: 5.712 mills, set August 4, 2026 on a split vote
- City of Canton M&O: 5.25 mills, only if you’re inside Canton city limits
- City of Woodstock M&O: 5.13 mills, plus 0.52 mills for the parks bond, only inside Woodstock city limits
- Cherokee County School District: 17.95 mills (16.45 for operations plus 1.5 for bond debt), the biggest piece of most bills and the same rate as last year
Why does my 2026 notice look different?
A new state law, Senate Bill 566, changed the assessment notice for the 2026 tax year. The notice is the letter you got this summer (Cherokee started mailing them June 15), not the bill itself. The new version shows:
- Last year’s value next to this year’s value
- Why your value changed
- Every exemption and credit you’re getting
- An estimate of what those exemptions save you
- Clearer appeal steps, deadlines and contacts
If you only ever glanced at the bottom line, this year’s notice is worth a real read. It tells you whether your exemptions are actually on file.
When is the Cherokee County property tax bill due?
County bills go out in the fall and are due November 15. After that, interest starts, plus a 5% penalty every 120 days, up to 20%.
If you live inside Woodstock city limits, you get a separate city bill too. Woodstock mailed its 2026 bills October 20, and they’re delinquent 60 days after mailing.
If your mortgage has an escrow account, your lender usually pays it. The county is clear that you’re still the one responsible if it doesn’t get paid, so log in and check.
What exemptions can lower my bill?
The ones that matter most in Cherokee County:
- Basic homestead: comes off your assessed value ($2,000 for state and school, $5,000 for county) and limits how much county M&O can rise after your base year. You have to own and live in the home on January 1.
- Statewide floating homestead: added automatically when you file homestead. It applies to everything except school taxes.
- Senior school exemption: at 62 or older, with 5 years of homestead in Cherokee, you’re exempt from school taxes. That’s usually the biggest single line on the bill.
- New for 2026: you can now apply for exemptions up until the appeal deadline for that tax year. Before, it was April 1.
I’m buying a home. What do I need to know?
Georgia taxes are based on who owns the home on January 1. The county doesn’t split the bill between buyer and seller. That gets settled between the two of you at closing. Two things I watch on every purchase:
- The seller’s exemptions don’t follow you. If the seller had a senior school exemption, your first full-year bill can be a lot higher than the listing shows. Budget off the full-rate number.
- File your own homestead as soon as you’ve moved in. It’s in person at the Tax Assessor’s office, 2782 Marietta Hwy, Suite 200, in Canton. Bring your Georgia license with the new address and your settlement statement or deed.
Gabe’s take
Don’t budget off the tax number on a listing. That’s the seller’s bill, with the seller’s exemptions. I’d rather run the real number with you before you write an offer than have a $300-a-month surprise show up in your escrow a year later. And if you already own here, pull out that new notice. If an exemption you qualify for isn’t on it, that’s money you’re leaving on the table.
If you want me to run the tax math on a house you’re looking at, or on your own place, grab a time on my calendar.
Gabe Arronte, Tin Cup Realty · 1 Look Real Estate. This is general information, not tax advice. Check your own bill with the Cherokee County Tax Commissioner.
FAQ
How much are property taxes in Canton, GA?
Most Canton homeowners pay roughly 0.7% to 1% of their home’s value a year. The typical Canton bill is about $3,700 a year.
When are Cherokee County property taxes due?
County bills are due November 15. After that, interest and a 5% penalty every 120 days apply, up to 20%.
Do I have to apply for the homestead exemption?
Yes. You must own and live in the home on January 1, and file with the Cherokee County Tax Assessor. For 2026 you can apply up to the appeal deadline for that tax year.
Is the City of Canton tax on every Canton address?
No. The 5.25-mill city rate only applies inside Canton city limits. Many homes with a Canton mailing address are in unincorporated Cherokee County.