Add to calendar

2027 · Hampton Roads, Virginia

Your Hampton Roads Homeowner Calendar

Owning a house here is different. Hurricane season, king tides, termites, crawlspaces, and a car tax most people have never heard of until the bill shows up. I put the whole year in one calendar: what to do to the house before each season hits, and the dates that cost you money if you miss them.

Add to my calendar

Subscribe once and it updates on its own. If a date changes, your calendar changes too.

Using something else? Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook · Download the file

How do I add it?

iPhone, iPad or Mac: tap Add to my calendar, then Subscribe.

Google Calendar: tap the Google Calendar link above and confirm. On a computer you can also paste the link under Other calendars → From URL.

Outlook: Add calendar → Subscribe from web, then paste the link:

Jason Edwards
Jason Edwards
REALTOR® · eXp Realty · Retired Navy Senior Chief

Mark these first

The 11 dates that are money

Real estate tax, car tax, flood insurance and tax relief. Every Hampton Roads city does it a little differently, so pick yours.

Mar31Wed
Money

The what

Real estate tax quarterly installment due Mar 31 (Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth)

The why

These three cities bill real estate tax four times a year, not twice, which surprises a lot of buyers coming from out of state.

In Norfolk: 3rd quarter real estate due Mar 31.

In Chesapeake: 3rd installment real estate due Mar 31.

In Portsmouth: 3rd quarter real estate and stormwater fee due Mar 31.

The checklist

  • Norfolk: 3rd quarter due Mar 31.
  • Chesapeake: 3rd installment due Mar 31.
  • Portsmouth: 3rd quarter (with stormwater fee) due Mar 31.
  • Escrowed? Confirm on the treasurer's site that your lender paid it.

If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Norfolk Treasurer · Chesapeake due dates · Portsmouth Treasurer

Apr30Fri
Money

The what

Tax relief applications start closing (owners 65+ or permanently disabled)

The why

Each Hampton Roads city runs its own relief program with its own window, and most require a new application every year.

In Portsmouth: Relief applications Jan 1 to Apr 30.

In Chesapeake: Relief applications due May 15.

In Norfolk: Relief applications Feb 1 to Jun 1 (Human Services).

In Virginia Beach: Relief applications Feb 1 to Jun 30, by appointment.

In Suffolk: Relief applications Jan 1 to Jun 30 (Social Services).

In Hampton: Relief applications Feb 1 to Aug 31.

In Newport News: Relief applications due by Aug 31.

The checklist

  • Portsmouth: Jan 1 to Apr 30.
  • Chesapeake: file by May 15.
  • Norfolk: Feb 1 to Jun 1 (Human Services).
  • Virginia Beach: Feb 1 to Jun 30 (by appointment). Suffolk: Jan 1 to Jun 30 (Social Services). Hampton: Feb 1 to Aug 31. Newport News: by Aug 31. Disabled veteran (100% P&T) exemption: no deadline, apply anytime.

If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Portsmouth exemptions · Chesapeake due dates · Norfolk Treasurer · Virginia Beach tax relief (PDF) · Suffolk tax relief · Hampton due dates · Newport News relief (PDF) · Va. Code 58.1-3219.5

May1Sat
Money

The what

Flood insurance buy-by date for coverage by June 1

The why

Flood policies generally take 30 days to kick in, and in a low-lying coastal region you can't buy one once a storm is in the forecast and expect it to cover you.

Applies in every Hampton Roads city.

The checklist

  • Buy or renew flood coverage by today so the usual 30-day waiting period ends before hurricane season starts June 1.
  • Flood coverage is a separate policy, not part of homeowners insurance.
  • Ask whether you also want contents coverage. It's separate from the building coverage.

A Saturday in 2027: buy before the weekend. If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: FEMA · NOAA hurricane center

May3Mon
Money

The what

Virginia income tax return due (May 1 is a Saturday in 2027, so Mon May 3)

The why

Virginia's deadline is two weeks after the federal one, and new arrivals often miss it or file as a resident when they shouldn't.

Applies in every Hampton Roads city.

The checklist

  • Virginia's individual return is due May 1, or the next business day when May 1 lands on a weekend or holiday.
  • Military: if your legal residence is another state, your military pay isn't Virginia income, and your spouse may qualify too if you share the same legal residence.

If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Virginia Tax · Virginia Tax bulletin 10-1

Jun5Sat
Money

The what

Car tax (personal property) due June 5 in most Hampton Roads cities

The why

Virginia's car tax catches a lot of newcomers off guard, and active-duty owners from out of state often pay it when they didn't have to.

In Virginia Beach: Annual car tax due June 5.

In Chesapeake: Annual car tax and city license fee due June 5.

In Norfolk: Annual car tax due June 5.

In Portsmouth: Annual car tax and license fee due June 5.

In Hampton: 1st-half car tax due June 5.

In Newport News: 1st-half car tax due June 5.

The checklist

  • June 5: Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth (annual bill), plus the 1st half in Hampton and Newport News. Suffolk's car tax is due Dec 5.
  • June 5, 2027 is a Saturday. Most cities move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer.
  • Active duty with legal residence in another state: a car titled only to you (or to you and a spouse with the same legal residence) is generally exempt. Give the Commissioner of the Revenue a current LES showing your state of legal residence. Spouses may need a military ID and an affidavit, and a co-owner who isn't the service member or spouse usually kills the exemption.
  • Car tax isn't escrowed, so this one is on you.

Falls on a Saturday in 2027. If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Virginia Beach car tax · Chesapeake due dates · Norfolk Treasurer · Portsmouth Treasurer · Hampton due dates · Newport News car tax · Suffolk due dates · Virginia Tax bulletin 10-1

Jun5Sat
Money

The what

Real estate tax due June 5 in most Hampton Roads cities (Sat in 2027)

The why

This is the biggest tax week of the year in Hampton Roads, and a missed bill gets penalty and interest even if you never received it.

In Virginia Beach: 2nd-half real estate due June 5.

In Suffolk: 2nd-half real estate due June 5.

In Hampton: Real estate installment due June 5.

In Newport News: Real estate installment due June 5.

In Norfolk: 4th quarter real estate due June 5.

In Chesapeake: 4th installment real estate (and 1st-half stormwater) due June 5.

The checklist

  • June 5: Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News (semiannual), plus Norfolk 4th quarter and Chesapeake 4th installment. Chesapeake's 1st-half stormwater fee is due too.
  • Portsmouth is different: 4th quarter is due June 30.
  • June 5, 2027 is a Saturday. Most of these cities move it to the next business day (Mon June 7), but check your city treasurer.
  • Escrowed? Confirm your lender paid it.

Falls on a Saturday in 2027. If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Virginia Beach real estate · Suffolk due dates · Hampton due dates · Newport News real estate · Norfolk Treasurer · Chesapeake due dates · Portsmouth Treasurer

Jun30Wed
Money

The what

Portsmouth real estate tax 4th quarter due June 30

The why

Portsmouth's quarterly dates don't match the rest of the region, so people who moved over from another Hampton Roads city tend to miss them.

In Portsmouth: 4th quarter real estate and stormwater fee due June 30 (July 5 if you're 65 or older).

The checklist

  • Portsmouth 4th quarter real estate tax and stormwater fee due June 30 (July 5 if you're 65 or older).
  • Escrowed? Confirm your lender paid it.

If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Portsmouth Treasurer

Sep30Thu
Money

The what

Real estate tax 1st quarter due Sept 30 (Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth)

The why

These are the first bills of the new city fiscal year, which starts July 1 here, so a new tax rate or assessment shows up now.

In Norfolk: 1st quarter real estate due Sept 30.

In Chesapeake: 1st installment real estate due Sept 30.

In Portsmouth: 1st quarter real estate due Sept 30 (Oct 5 if you're 65 or older).

The checklist

  • Norfolk 1st quarter, Chesapeake 1st installment, Portsmouth 1st quarter (Oct 5 if you're 65 or older).
  • First bill since the July 1 rate change, so check the amount against last year.
  • Escrowed? Confirm your lender paid it.

If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Norfolk Treasurer · Chesapeake due dates · Portsmouth Treasurer

Dec5Sun
Money

The what

Car tax (personal property) due Dec 5 in Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News

The why

Suffolk bills car tax in December, not June like most of its neighbors, and Hampton and Newport News split it in two, so people who move within the region get caught by the change.

In Suffolk: Annual car tax and vehicle license fee due Dec 5.

In Hampton: 2nd-half car tax due Dec 5.

In Newport News: 2nd-half car tax due Dec 5.

The checklist

  • Suffolk: annual car tax and vehicle license fee due Dec 5.
  • Hampton and Newport News: 2nd half due Dec 5.
  • Dec 5, 2027 is a Sunday. Most cities move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer.
  • Military non-residents: confirm your LES exemption is on file.

Falls on a Sunday in 2027. If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Suffolk due dates · Hampton due dates · Newport News car tax

Dec5Sun
Money

The what

Real estate tax due Dec 5 in most Hampton Roads cities (Sun in 2027)

The why

This is the second big tax date in Hampton Roads, and it lands during the holidays when bills get buried.

In Virginia Beach: 1st-half real estate due Dec 5.

In Suffolk: 1st-half real estate due Dec 5.

In Hampton: Real estate installment due Dec 5.

In Newport News: Real estate installment due Dec 5.

In Norfolk: 2nd quarter real estate due Dec 5.

The checklist

  • Dec 5: Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News (semiannual), plus Norfolk 2nd quarter.
  • Chesapeake and Portsmouth are due Dec 31 instead.
  • Dec 5, 2027 is a Sunday. Most cities move it to Mon Dec 6, but check your city treasurer.
  • Escrowed? Confirm your lender paid it.

Falls on a Sunday in 2027. If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Virginia Beach real estate · Suffolk due dates · Hampton due dates · Newport News real estate · Norfolk real estate

Dec31Fri
Money

The what

Real estate tax due Dec 31 in Chesapeake and Portsmouth

The why

These two cities are due at the very end of the year, after everyone else's December deadline has passed, so they're easy to forget.

In Chesapeake: 2nd installment real estate and 2nd-half stormwater due Dec 31.

In Portsmouth: 2nd quarter real estate due Dec 31 (Jan 5 if you're 65 or older).

The checklist

  • Chesapeake 2nd installment and 2nd-half stormwater fee due Dec 31.
  • Portsmouth 2nd quarter (with stormwater fee) due Dec 31 (Jan 5 if you're 65 or older).
  • Dec 31, 2027 is a Friday and may be observed as the New Year's holiday. Pay early, or check your city treasurer for the actual deadline.
  • Escrowed? Confirm your lender paid it.

Possible New Year's holiday in 2027. If the date lands on a weekend or holiday, Hampton Roads treasurers generally move it to the next business day, but check your city treasurer before you count on that.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Sources: Chesapeake real estate · Chesapeake due dates · Portsmouth Treasurer

Month by month

The house, before each season

One thing a month, timed so you do it before the weather shows up, not during.

Jan2Sat
Money

The what

Make sure your December tax bill actually got paid

The why

City treasurers here (Newport News spells it out) only send the bill to your lender if the lender asks for it, and if it slips through, the delinquent notice and the penalty come to you, not the bank.

The checklist

  • Look up your property on your city treasurer's site and confirm the December real estate installment shows paid (Dec 5 in most cities; Dec 31 in Chesapeake and Portsmouth).
  • When your lender's annual escrow analysis shows up, check it against your real tax and insurance bills. A shortage means your monthly payment is about to go up.
  • Save your mortgage Form 1098 and your city tax receipts in one folder for tax time.
  • If you PCS'd or changed your state of legal residence last year, note it now. You'll need it for the car tax exemption and your Virginia return.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Feb6Sat
Maintenance

The what

Get ahead of termite swarm season

The why

Our damp sandy and clay soils are ideal for subterranean termites, and they usually swarm here on warm days after rain from March through May, so February is your last quiet month to get a bond and an inspection in place.

The checklist

  • Find your termite bond paperwork and confirm it's current. If you don't have one, get an inspection scheduled before March.
  • Pull mulch, pine straw and soil back so there's a few inches of clear foundation showing all the way around the house.
  • Fix anything that keeps the soil wet against the house: a dripping spigot, a downspout that dumps at the foundation, an AC condensate line draining right at the wall.
  • Learn the difference: swarming termites have straight antennae and two pairs of equal-length wings. If you find wings piling up on a windowsill, call someone.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
Mar13Sat
Maintenance

The what

Clocks spring forward Sunday Mar 14: switch the house over to cooling

The why

Our cooling season runs long and humid, an AC that limps through May will quit in July, and units near the water corrode faster from salt air.

The checklist

  • Book your AC tune-up now, before the first 85-degree week when every HVAC company in town is booked out.
  • Hose off the outdoor condenser coil (gently, top down, power off). Salt air and spring pollen both crud it up.
  • Put a fresh filter in now, and plan on another one once the pine pollen is done in April.
  • While you're changing clocks Sunday: test smoke and CO alarms and swap batteries.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
Apr3Sat
Money

The what

Insurance check-up before hurricane season (flood buy-by date is May 1)

The why

Hurricane season starts June 1, flood policies generally don't take effect for 30 days, and a lot of streets here flood in a heavy rain even when you're not in a mapped flood zone.

The checklist

  • Pull up your homeowners policy and find your hurricane or windstorm deductible. Here it's often a percentage of your dwelling coverage, not a flat dollar amount, so do the math.
  • Remember standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood. If you don't have a flood policy, get a quote now. It has a 30-day wait before it kicks in.
  • Walk the house with your phone and video every room, closet and the garage. Save it to the cloud, not just your phone.
  • If your insurance is escrowed, confirm the renewal premium matches what your lender has on file.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
May1Sat
Maintenance

The what

Storm-proof the outside before June 1

The why

Hampton Roads is low-lying and a big pine-tree area, so falling limbs and clogged gutters cause more storm damage here than the wind itself, and the time to fix them is before the season opens June 1.

The checklist

  • Look up your evacuation zone (A through D) at VDEM's Know Your Zone map and write it on the fridge.
  • Have dead limbs and any leaning pines over the roof looked at and trimmed now. Tree crews are slammed after a named storm.
  • Clean the pine pollen and needles out of the gutters, and make sure downspouts carry water at least 4 to 6 feet away from the foundation.
  • If you have a generator, run it under load for 20 minutes and buy fuel stabilizer. Plan where it sits: outside, away from doors and windows.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
Jun5Sat
Maintenance

The what

Mosquito and standing-water patrol

The why

Our summers are hot, humid and stormy, so standing water turns into mosquitoes within about a week, and a clogged condensate line is one of the most common summer water leaks I see in houses here.

The checklist

  • Once a week after it rains, tip out anything holding water: buckets, kids' toys, tarps, plant saucers, the boat cover.
  • Clear the gutters and any corrugated downspout extensions. They hold water and breed mosquitoes.
  • Look for low spots in the yard that stay wet more than a couple of days, and note them for a drainage fix.
  • Flush the AC condensate line with a cup of white vinegar so it doesn't clog and back up.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Jul3Sat
Maintenance

The what

Humidity check inside and under the house

The why

Long, sticky summers plus the region's many crawlspaces mean moisture builds under the house, and that's where mold, wood rot and the termite problem start.

The checklist

  • Buy a cheap hygrometer and check indoor humidity. You want roughly 30 to 50 percent. If it's higher with the AC running, something's off.
  • Pop open the crawlspace door with a flashlight: look for standing water, wet or torn vapor barrier, and sagging insulation.
  • Run bathroom fans 20 minutes after showers, and check closets on outside walls for musty smells.
  • If you have a crawlspace dehumidifier, empty or check its drain and clean the filter.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Aug7Sat
Maintenance

The what

Before peak hurricane season: roof and the salty stuff outside

The why

Our hurricane activity usually peaks from mid-August through October, and a loose shingle or a corroded condenser is a cheap fix now and an expensive claim later.

The checklist

  • From the ground with binoculars (or have a roofer do it), look for lifted or missing shingles, and for loose flashing around vents and chimneys.
  • Rinse the AC condenser, outdoor light fixtures and metal railings with fresh water. Salt eats them.
  • Restock the hurricane kit: water, batteries, flashlights, meds, phone power banks, copies of insurance and ID.
  • Update your home inventory video if you bought anything big this year.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
Sep4Sat
Maintenance

The what

King tide and nor'easter season: know where the water goes

The why

Fall king tides and nor'easters push water into low-lying neighborhoods here even on sunny days, and saltwater ruins cars and HVAC units fast.

The checklist

  • Learn which roads around your house flood at high tide and in heavy rain. Your city's flood or storm-alert notifications can help.
  • Have a 'move the car' plan: a parking garage or high ground you can get to before a big tide or storm.
  • Clear leaves and debris off the storm drain in front of your house and any yard drains.
  • Make sure foundation vents, window wells and the crawlspace door close tight and the sump pump (if you have one) actually runs.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Oct2Sat
Maintenance

The what

Heat check before the first cold snap

The why

Our winters are mild, so heating systems sit idle for months and often get tested for the first time on the coldest night of the year, when nobody can get a tech out.

The checklist

  • Book a heating tune-up. Heat pumps need the backup heat strips checked; gas furnaces need a burner and CO check.
  • Clean the dryer vent all the way to the outside. Humid air plus lint packs it fast.
  • Swap the HVAC filter again.
  • Check weatherstripping on doors and the attic hatch.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
Nov6Sat
Maintenance

The what

Clocks fall back Sunday Nov 7: winterize the outside

The why

Hard freezes are rare here, so a lot of houses aren't set up for them, and pipes in vented crawlspaces and outdoor spigots are what burst when an ice storm finally comes through.

The checklist

  • Disconnect garden hoses and put foam covers on outdoor spigots. If you have an inside shutoff for them, close it and drain the line.
  • If your crawlspace is vented (not sealed), close the foundation vents for winter and check pipe insulation under there.
  • Have the irrigation system blown out or drained if you have one.
  • Clocks change Sunday: test smoke and CO alarms again.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Dec4Sat
Money

The what

Get your tax status right before January 1

The why

Virginia localities assess cars as of January 1 and each city runs its own exemptions, so a five-minute call in December saves you a full year's bill in Hampton Roads.

The checklist

  • Sold, bought or moved a car this year? Tell your city's Commissioner of the Revenue. Virginia car tax is based on what you own as of January 1, and it follows where the car is kept.
  • Active duty with legal residence in another state? Make sure your current LES is on file with the Commissioner of the Revenue so your car stays exempt (details in the June 5 car tax entry).
  • Rated 100% permanent and total by the VA? You can apply for the Virginia real estate tax exemption on your home anytime. Reapply if you move. Ask about the one-vehicle car tax exemption too.
  • 65 or older, or permanently disabled? Look at your city's tax relief program. Windows open Jan 1 or Feb 1 depending on the city.

The vendor

You can handle this one yourself.

Optional

If your home has a well or septic

Common in parts of Suffolk and Chesapeake. Skip these if you're on city water and sewer.

Apr10Sat
MaintenanceOptional · well or septic

The what

septic pump-out check

The why

Septic systems are common in Suffolk and Chesapeake, our high water table and heavy rain stress drainfields, and missing a Bay Act pump-out notice can mean a violation letter on top of a repair.

The checklist

  • Find your last pump-out receipt. If it's been about 5 years, schedule one now.
  • If you're in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (much of Hampton Roads), the state rules require a pump-out (or a passing inspection) at least once every 5 years, and some cities send compliance notices. Suffolk runs a zone schedule.
  • Keep cars, sheds and downspout water off the drainfield.
  • Watch for soggy spots or a sewage smell over the drainfield after heavy rain.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
May8Sat
MaintenanceOptional · well or septic

The what

annual well water test

The why

Private wells are common in rural Suffolk and southern Chesapeake, and in a low-lying, flood-prone area surface water can get into a well without changing how the water looks or tastes.

The checklist

  • Have the water tested for bacteria (and nitrates) by a certified lab. Do it every year.
  • Check that the well cap is tight and sealed, and the ground slopes away from the wellhead.
  • Retest after any flooding that reaches the wellhead.
  • Keep fertilizer, fuel and pet waste away from the well.

The vendor

This one usually takes a pro. I know people.

Need a vendor? Text Jason
Jason Edwards

Questions? Just text me.

I'm Jason Edwards, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty and a retired Navy Senior Chief. I built this because the same questions come up every year: who do I call for the crawlspace, when is the car tax due, do I need flood insurance. If you need a vendor or a second opinion, text me. That's what I'm here for.

Text Jason