Fauquier County, Virginia

Tax Deed75,865 residents

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Deed

Redemption periodstate default

Right to redeem up until the court confirms the sale, not after

Investor returnstate default

N/A — outright deed transfer once confirmed

Governing statutestate default

Code of Virginia Title 58.1, Ch. 39

Notes

Virginia judicial tax-deed county. Fauquier County Treasurer initiates suits under Va. Code §58.1-3965 for parcels delinquent more than two years as of Dec 31. August 24, 2026 notice lists parcels for which Treasurer will commence Circuit Court sale proceedings. After suit, court appoints Special Commissioner of Sale; process historically includes private-offer period then public auction at Fauquier Circuit Courthouse in Warrenton when parcels remain unsold. Sales are periodic without fixed retail calendar. Warrenton / New Baltimore / Bealeton — outer DC metro / horse-country market.

Auction logistics

Format

Judicial sale (special commissioner; private offers then public auction when used)

Frequency

Periodic as suits progress — 2026 proceedings noticed to commence on/after Aug 24, 2026; public auction only if parcels remain after private-offer stage

Platform

Fauquier County Treasurer — Judicial Tax Sale ↗

Deposit rules

Deposit and balance terms set by court order / Special Commissioner Conditions of Sale. Owner payment agreements up to 72 months may remove parcels before sale (contact Treasurer). Obtain decree and advertisement for any parcel; certified funds typical. Inquiries: Mary Catherine Anderson, Treasurer’s Office, 540-422-8193.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Proper judicial tax sale after confirmation generally cuts off most junior liens; federal liens can survive. Verify parties and decree language parcel-by-parcel.

Quiet title

Court confirmation is primary clearing; quiet title if chain defects appear — common diligence in outer-DC title practice.

Deal maths for Virginia

Assessment ratio: 1× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $250

Va. Const. art. X, § 2: "All assessments of real estate and tangible personal property shall be at their fair market value, to be ascertained as prescribed by law." There is no classification and no ratio below full value, except the agricultural, horticultural, forest and open-space use-value deferral the same section authorises.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Fauquier County Treasurer's Office — Judicial Tax Sale ↗

540-422-8193

Clerk of court

Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk ↗

Property appraiser

Fauquier County Commissioner of the Revenue / Real Estate Assessment ↗

GIS / parcel map

Fauquier County GIS Hub / Interactive Map Gallery ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

New Baltimore / Vint Hill DC-commute fringe

Outer Northern Virginia job access with school-driven SF demand

Warrenton / county-seat commercial core

Local government, retail, and medical employment with liquid SF

Bealeton / south Fauquier highway fringe

Relative entry pricing versus Warrenton horse-country premiums