Assessors' Office Information

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Norwell Assessors’ Office is responsible for and maintains real estate valuations, personal property valuations, motor vehicle excise tax files and boat excise tax files. All applications for personal exemptions, community preservation exemptions, deferrals, abatement requests for real and personal property, motor vehicle and boat excise taxes must be filed with this office. 

For further information on these items please contact the office 781-659-8014

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE MANDATE:

Every city and town in Massachusetts is mandated to fully update its property assessments every fiscal year to reflect the current fair market value.  These valuations are based on arms length sales from two years prior, style, age, location, square footage, grade and other information using the “mass appraisal” software system. 

Norwell’s tax rate is set by the Norwell Board of Assessors and is submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) each fiscal year for their review and approval. Every five years, the “DOR” audits the Board of Assessors’ procedures and records for certification.  The next certification for this will be in Fiscal Year 2024.

UPDATES

The Norwell Assessors’ Office updates all property ownerships according to the recorded deed transactions which are received from the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds. The Assessors’ Public Database lists the owner of record as of January 1st in the calendar year that precedes the current Fiscal Year. New owners of record that occur during the year are listed as: “Care Of” for billing purposes.

The Registry of Deeds website, www.plymouthdeeds.org has a search engine which updates all deed and real estate transactions daily and is searchable back to 1861.