Norfolk County, Virginia

Tax Deed231,105 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 independent city — tax deed auctions (not lien certificates). City of Norfolk Treasurer / Special Commissioner process sells long-delinquent real estate at public auction online via Virginia Auction Company. Multiple 2025–2026 cycles (e.g. Dec 2025, Feb–Mar 2026, June 11–18, 2026 nonjudicial/judicial lots). Terms vary by sale (some full payment same day + buyer’s premium; others 20% deposit at close). Sold as-is subject to easements and matters of record.

Auction logistics

Format

Online

Frequency

Several times per year when inventory is ready (watch norfolk.gov Real Estate Tax and vaauctionco.com calendars)

Platform

Virginia Auction Company — City of Norfolk Tax Auctions ↗

Deposit rules

Per-sale VaAuctionCo terms: examples include full payment + 15% buyer’s premium + $200 recordation within hours of close, or 20% deposit at close with no buyer’s premium. Cash/cashier’s/money order/wire (wire fee). Confirm current sale terms before funding. Bidder should not be delinquent to the City.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Proper judicial tax sale after court confirmation generally cuts off most junior liens; nonjudicial low-value sales have statutory limits. Federal tax liens can survive. Always read the decree/notice for exceptions.

Quiet title

Court confirmation is the primary clearing step for judicial sales; quiet title may still be used if chain defects appear.

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

City of Norfolk Treasurer — Real Estate Tax ↗

Clerk of court

Clerk of the Circuit Court, City of Norfolk ↗

Property appraiser

Norfolk Real Estate Assessor ↗

GIS / parcel map

Norfolk property / GIS map ↗

Areas trending up

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

Downtown Norfolk / Waterside

Military and port employment with urban multifamily demand

Ghent / Colonial Place

Established walkable neighborhoods with strong resale liquidity

Ocean View / Willoughby

Waterfront relative value and investor rehab inventory