Terrebonne Parish tax assessor: assessments, exemptions, and how to appeal

Last updated 2026-07-10

What does the Terrebonne Parish tax assessor actually do?

The Terrebonne Parish Assessor values every parcel of real and personal property in the parish for ad valorem tax purposes. The assessor sets the number your tax bill is built on. The assessor does not set the tax rate, and the assessor does not collect a dime. Those jobs belong to the taxing bodies (school board, parish council, and so on) and the Tax Collector's Office.

The authority comes from Article VII, Section 18 of the Louisiana Constitution. It requires assessors to value property at fair market value, then apply an assessment ratio of 10 percent for residential land and improvements ^[1]. Say the assessor puts your home at $200,000. Your assessed value is $20,000. The homestead exemption (more on that below) then cuts your taxable assessed value further.

The current assessor for Terrebonne Parish is Gene Bonvillain. His office is at 8026 Main Street, Suite 501, Houma, LA 70360. You can reach the office at (985) 857-1040 ^[2]. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The assessor reappraises the entire parish on a four-year cycle, which Louisiana law requires ^[9]. The most recent quadrennial reappraisal took effect in 2024. Outside that cycle, the assessor can still change a value if a property sells, gets renovated, or if a prior error surfaces.

How does the Terrebonne Parish assessor calculate your property value?

Louisiana assessors use three standard approaches to find fair market value: sales comparison, cost, and income. La. R.S. 47:2323 spells this out ^[3]. For most single-family homes in Terrebonne Parish, sales comparison carries the most weight. The assessor looks at recent arm's-length sales of comparable properties (same neighborhood, similar size, similar age and condition) and adjusts for the differences.

The cost approach does more work on newer construction and odd properties where sales comps are thin. The income approach matters most for commercial and rental property, where value tracks net operating income.

After landing on fair market value, the assessor applies the 10 percent residential ratio to get your assessed value. Then the homestead exemption (up to $75,000 of assessed value, which equals up to $7,500 off your taxable base) comes out for eligible owners. What's left gets multiplied by the millage rates that apply to your district. That's your tax bill.

Here's what a lot of Terrebonne homeowners miss. The assessor cannot raise a homesteaded property's assessed value by more than 10 percent in a reassessment year, as long as the property hasn't changed hands or seen major improvements. That's the constitutional 10 percent cap under Article VII, Section 18(G) ^[1]. Sell the property, and the cap resets at the new fair market value.

What is the homestead exemption in Terrebonne Parish and how do you apply?

The Louisiana homestead exemption is one of the most generous in the South. It exempts the first $75,000 of your home's assessed value from all property taxes except debt-service (bond) millages. Take a home at $200,000 fair market value. That's a $20,000 assessed value, and after the $7,500 homestead exemption ($75,000 x 10%), you pay taxes on just $12,500 of assessed value ^[1].

To qualify, you have to own the home and live in it as your primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year. File once at the Terrebonne Parish Assessor's Office and the exemption renews on its own each year, as long as you stay the owner-occupant ^[2]. Sell and move, and it does not follow you. You re-apply at the new parish's assessor office.

What you usually need to apply: a completed homestead exemption application, a copy of your recorded deed, and a Louisiana driver's license or state ID showing the property address. The Terrebonne Assessor's Office takes applications in person at 8026 Main Street, Suite 501, in Houma, and through an online portal.

Some homeowners qualify for more:

• Special Assessment Level (the "tax freeze"): open to homeowners 65 or older with combined household income at or below $100,000, permanently disabled homeowners, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of military members killed in action. It freezes your assessed value at the level it was when you first qualified ^[1].
• Veteran exemptions: Louisiana adds a property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The amount scales with the disability rating ^[4].

Skipping the homestead exemption is one of the most expensive mistakes a Terrebonne homeowner can make. Bought recently and never filed? Check your assessment notice. If no exemption shows, apply right away.

When does Terrebonne Parish send assessment notices and what are the key deadlines?

Louisiana law runs a fixed annual calendar for assessments and appeals. Knowing the dates is half the fight. Miss one deadline and you can lose your options for the whole year.

Event	Typical Timing
Assessor's books open for public inspection	Last two weeks of August (15 days required by La. R.S. 47:1992)
Deadline to file informal appeal with assessor	Last day the books are open (typically late August/early September)
Deadline to file formal appeal with Louisiana Tax Commission	September 15 of the tax year [5]
Tax bills mailed by Tax Collector	November/December
Property taxes due without penalty	December 31
Taxes become delinquent	January 1 of the following year

The open-books period is your first and best window. For those 15 days, you can walk into the assessor's office, review your assessment, hold it up against neighboring properties, and ask for an informal correction on the spot. Most plain errors get fixed right here, no formal paperwork needed.

If the assessor won't correct the value to your satisfaction, you go up a level. That's a formal appeal filed with the Louisiana Tax Commission by September 15 ^[5]. File after that and you forfeit your appeal rights for the year. The commission's address is 617 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

One practical note. Paying your tax bill does not waive your right to appeal. But the appeal runs on its own track, so don't sit around waiting for the bill to decide whether to fight.

How do you appeal a Terrebonne Parish property tax assessment?

An appeal in Louisiana has two stages. Try Stage 1 before you jump to Stage 2. The informal stage costs nothing.

Stage 1: Informal review with the assessor's office

During the 15-day open-books period, go to the assessor's office (or use the online portal if it's available) and ask to see your property record card. This card holds the assessor's data on your home: square footage, year built, bathroom count, construction quality, and notes on condition. Errors here happen all the time. A wrong room count. A finished basement the assessor treats as heated living space when it isn't. A missing deduction for flood damage. Bring photos, your closing disclosure if you bought recently below the assessed value, and any contractor estimates for repairs you've been putting off.

Found a factual error? The assessor can fix it right there. If the fight is about the opinion of value rather than a data error, you make your case and the assessor either agrees or doesn't. Get the response in writing before you leave either way.

Stage 2: Formal appeal to the Louisiana Tax Commission

If the assessor won't cut the value, you file a formal appeal with the Louisiana Tax Commission (LTC) by September 15. The LTC Form 3103.A (Notice of Appeal) is on the LTC's website ^[5]. The filing fee is $25 for residential property.

Your appeal states the assessor's value, your opinion of value, and a short reason. Then you get a hearing, in person or by teleconference. You present your evidence there. The LTC is a three-member board that hears appeals statewide and issues written decisions.

The best evidence is almost always recent comparable sales. Pull three to five sales of homes like yours that closed in the prior 12 months in the same neighborhood or subdivision. The assessor's public database and the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court's conveyance records are both free sources ^[8]. Own a commercial property? A rent roll and a cap-rate analysis from local market data beats sales comps.

If the LTC rules against you, the next step is district court, which pulls in attorney fees and rarely pays off for a residential property unless the tax savings are large.

Want a structured way to gather comps and build your case? The TaxFightBack appeal kit walks through exactly this and lets you keep 100 percent of any savings. Contingency firms typically take 30 to 50 percent of the first year's reduction.

What evidence actually wins a Terrebonne Parish property tax appeal?

The Louisiana Tax Commission rules for the owner when the evidence shows the assessor's value sits materially above fair market value. Here's what moves the needle.

Recent comparable sales are the strongest evidence for a residential property. You want sales from the prior 12 to 18 months, in the same neighborhood or one you can show is similar, with homes of comparable size (within 20 percent of your square footage), age, and condition. Adjust for the differences. A comp with a pool is worth more than your no-pool home, so you apply a downward adjustment to that comp. Free sales data lives on the Terrebonne Parish Assessor's property search, the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court's conveyance records ^[8], and sites like Zillow or Realtor.com for a cross-check.

A recent purchase at a lower price is strong if you bought within the past year or two below the assessed fair market value. The deed is public record. Bring the settlement statement.

A licensed appraisal carries the most authority but costs $300 to $600 for a residential property. Worth it when the savings justify it. Run the math: if cutting your assessed value by $30,000 saves $500 a year, a $400 appraisal pays back in under a year.

Condition documentation helps when your home has deferred maintenance, storm damage, or problems the assessor's data doesn't capture. Photos, contractor estimates, insurance claims, and elevation certificates (which matter a lot in flood-prone Terrebonne Parish) all support a lower value.

Uniformity arguments work too. Under Louisiana law you can argue your assessment is inequitable next to similar properties, even if the raw number looks defensible ^[3]. If your neighbor's near-identical home is assessed at $160,000 and yours sits at $220,000, that gap is grounds to appeal. You find this data in the assessor's public database.

Don't walk into your hearing with a gut feeling. The LTC has seen everything, and it responds to documentation, not frustration.

How does Terrebonne Parish compare to other Louisiana parishes on assessment practices?

Louisiana has 64 parishes, each with an elected assessor, and assessment quality varies. Terrebonne runs on the same constitutional framework as every other parish: a 10 percent residential ratio and the $75,000 homestead exemption statewide. What differs is how closely an assessor tracks market value between quadrennial cycles.

Acadia Parish is a good comparison. Elected assessor, same homestead structure, same LTC appeal path. The Acadia Parish tax assessor uses the same four-year cycle and the same September 15 deadline. Own property in two parishes, or comparing your situation to a neighbor across a parish line? The rules are identical. The differences come down to local market conditions and how aggressively the assessor updates values in off-cycle years.

For homeowners comparing to other states, Louisiana's system is relatively taxpayer-friendly. The books open for public inspection by law, and the informal stage costs nothing. Texas (see our guide to the Bexar County tax assessor) and Georgia (see the Gwinnett County tax assessor) each have their own structures and timelines. Louisiana's two-step path is about as approachable as they come for a DIY appeal.

One real difference stands out. Louisiana's 10 percent cap on reassessment increases for homesteaded property protects owners more than many states do. A homeowner who bought in Terrebonne in 2015 and never sold may have watched market value roughly double, while the assessed value could only rise 10 percent per reassessment cycle under the cap.

How do you search property records and assessed values in Terrebonne Parish?

The Terrebonne Parish Assessor runs a free public property search on its website ^[2]. Search by owner name, address, parcel number, or subdivision. Results show the fair market value, assessed value, any exemptions applied, and the physical description the assessor has on file.

Start here for any appeal. Pull your own record first and check the data. Then pull five to ten comparable parcels and stack their assessed values against what those homes actually sold for. See a pattern where your home is assessed higher relative to recent sales than comparable homes? You've got the core of an appeal.

The parish also runs GIS mapping tools that lay parcel data over aerial photos. Useful for confirming lot size and catching assessment oddities right around you.

For deed and sales data, the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court keeps conveyance records you can search online ^[8]. Sales are public record and free. You can confirm the sale price (Louisiana is a disclosure state for most arm's-length transactions) and the transfer date.

Need historical tax payment records? The Terrebonne Parish Tax Collector handles that, separate from the assessor. Contact info and the payment portal are on the tax collector's site.

What should you do if your Terrebonne Parish assessment seems too high after a sale?

Buying a home triggers a reassessment in Louisiana. The assessor updates your value to reflect the sale price when it's an arm's-length deal. Most of the time the new assessed value tracks what you paid. Sometimes it doesn't, and the assessor resets above your actual purchase price, especially if your sale closed late in the year or the data entry lags.

When your assessed value tops what you paid in an arm's-length sale, that's a clean appeal. Your closing disclosure (the HUD-1 or Closing Disclosure form) is direct evidence of fair market value. The Louisiana Supreme Court has held that a bona fide sale price is strong evidence of value for assessment purposes.

After a sale, refile the homestead exemption too. The exemption attaches to the prior owner's record, not the property. Move in and never file, and you may be paying full taxes with no exemption. That's fixable, and back-year relief is available for the prior year in some cases. Ask the assessor's office directly about correction procedures.

One more post-sale check: make sure the assessor has your correct mailing address. Assessment notices go to the address on file. If the prior owner's address is still in the system, you can miss the open-books window entirely and lose your appeal rights for the year without ever knowing you had them.

How does personal property taxation work in Terrebonne Parish?

In Louisiana, personal property tax hits business assets, not the household stuff individuals own. Run a business in Terrebonne Parish (a home-based business, a rental property, or a commercial operation), and the assessor makes you file an annual personal property report listing business assets: furniture, equipment, machinery, and inventory ^[3].

The personal property assessment ratio is 15 percent for business furniture and equipment, higher than the 10 percent on residential real property ^[1]. Fair market value is usually depreciated original cost, using IRS depreciation tables or Louisiana's prescribed schedules.

Personal property returns (Form 894 or 897, depending on property type) are due April 1 each year. Miss it and the assessor can estimate your value, usually not in your favor.

For owners of rental residential property, the real property is still assessed at 10 percent of fair market value, same as owner-occupied. But you don't get the homestead exemption unless you live in one unit of a multi-unit building as your primary residence. Vacancy alone doesn't cut your assessed value unless the property is functionally obsolete or in documented poor condition.

Commercial appeals run through the same LTC process, but the evidence package is heavier. Income-approach valuations need real rent rolls, vacancy data, operating expenses, and comparable cap rates from the local market. Own commercial property in Terrebonne with a high assessment? This is a case where a professional appraisal almost always earns its cost.

What are the most common assessment mistakes the Terrebonne assessor makes?

Based on the errors that turn up in Louisiana Tax Commission appeals statewide, these show up most in parishes like Terrebonne.

Square footage errors top the list. The assessor often leans on permit data or older surveys. If your home is recorded at 2,200 square feet but is actually 1,900, that gap inflates your value directly. Measure your own home, or pull the floor plan from your purchase appraisal.

Basement and garage misclassification happens when unfinished or unheated space gets counted as finished living area. In Terrebonne, where a lot of homes have enclosed utility areas or raised slab structures, this one is worth checking.

Missing depreciation for condition shows up on older homes. An aging roof, outdated HVAC, or termite damage the assessor's condition rating never caught leaves the value inflated. Condition adjustments can move the number meaningfully.

Flood zone impact is a Terrebonne-specific problem. Properties in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zone A or AE) carry higher insurance costs and take real market value discounts. The assessor's model may not fully price how buyers weigh flood risk on your specific parcel ^[6]. Elevation certificates and flood insurance premiums are legitimate evidence of value impairment.

Wrong property class occasionally happens when a commercial or mixed-use property gets coded as residential or the reverse, triggering the wrong assessment ratio.

The fix for all of these starts at the assessor's office with your property record card. You can't argue what you haven't confirmed.

Where can you get free help with your Terrebonne Parish property tax questions?

Start with the assessor's office. The staff will usually walk you through your record card, explain how your value got calculated, and tell you what evidence would support a change. This isn't adversarial, at least not at the informal stage. Most disputes with merit get settled right here.

The Louisiana Tax Commission runs a taxpayer assistance line and publishes guidance on filing appeals correctly. Its website carries appeal forms, deadlines, and procedural rules ^[5].

The LSU AgCenter and other LSU extension offices publish guides on homestead exemptions and property tax basics for Louisiana homeowners ^[7]. Free, and written for a general audience.

The Louisiana Legislature posts the full text of the ad valorem tax statutes online for free, including Title 47 ^[10]. That's where you confirm the law rather than take anyone's word for it.

For a structured way to pull comps, document condition issues, and build a formal LTC appeal package, the TaxFightBack appeal kit covers the full DIY process. You keep every dollar of savings. No contingency cut goes to a third party.

One thing not to do: pay a contingency firm 30 to 50 percent of your first-year savings for a residential appeal. The process is genuinely doable on your own with the right information. The downside is low too, because the worst outcome is the assessor says no and you're right back where you started.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Terrebonne Parish tax assessor?

Gene Bonvillain is the elected Terrebonne Parish Assessor. His office is at 8026 Main Street, Suite 501, Houma, LA 70360, and the phone number is (985) 857-1040. The assessor is a constitutional officer elected every four years and is responsible for valuing all real and personal property in the parish.

What is the deadline to appeal a Terrebonne Parish property tax assessment?

You have two deadlines. First, request an informal review at the assessor's office during the 15-day open-books period, usually the last two weeks of August. Second, file a formal appeal with the Louisiana Tax Commission no later than September 15 of the tax year. Miss September 15 and your appeal rights close for that year entirely.

How much does the Louisiana homestead exemption save me in Terrebonne Parish?

The homestead exemption removes the first $75,000 of your home's assessed value from taxation. Since residential property is assessed at 10 percent of fair market value, that shields the first $750,000 of market value in exemption terms. In dollars, a homeowner in a district with 100 total mills saves $750 per year ($7,500 assessed value x 0.100).

Can my Terrebonne Parish assessed value go up more than 10 percent?

For homesteaded property, Louisiana's constitutional cap limits assessed value increases to no more than 10 percent per quadrennial reassessment cycle. The cap resets when the property sells or gets significant improvements. Non-homesteaded property has no such protection and can be reassessed to full market value each cycle.

Where do I find comparable sales to use in my Terrebonne Parish appeal?

Use the Terrebonne Parish Assessor's free public property search to find neighboring homes and their assessed values. For actual sale prices, search the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court conveyance records. Louisiana is generally a disclosure state for arm's-length sales, so sale prices are public record. Zillow and similar sites are a useful cross-check but not a substitute for official records.

Do I need to hire a lawyer or tax agent to appeal my assessment in Terrebonne Parish?

No. The informal review at the assessor's office and the formal Louisiana Tax Commission appeal are both open to self-represented owners. The LTC filing fee for a residential appeal is $25. You'd only need an attorney to escalate to district court, which is rare for residential property. Most appeals with solid comparable sales evidence succeed without professional representation.

What happens if I miss the September 15 Louisiana Tax Commission appeal deadline?

Missing September 15 costs you the right to formally appeal your assessment for that tax year. You cannot file late, and paying your tax bill does not extend the deadline. Your next shot is the following year's open-books period. If the value is wrong, you can still ask the assessor for an informal correction anytime, but the assessor has no obligation to act outside the open-books window.

How does flooding affect my property assessment in Terrebonne Parish?

Properties in FEMA flood zones take real market value discounts because buyers face higher flood insurance premiums and financing restrictions. The assessor's mass appraisal model may not fully capture that discount on your parcel. Support a lower value with your elevation certificate, current flood insurance premium quotes, and sales comps of similar properties in the same flood zone that sold below the assessor's estimate.

When are Terrebonne Parish property taxes due?

Tax bills are usually mailed by November or December. Property taxes are due without penalty by December 31 of the tax year. Taxes go delinquent on January 1 of the following year and start accruing interest. For payment questions, contact the Terrebonne Parish Tax Collector, which is separate from the assessor's office.

Does the senior citizen tax freeze apply in Terrebonne Parish?

Yes. Louisiana's Special Assessment Level freezes the assessed value of a homesteaded property for homeowners 65 or older with combined household income at or below $100,000, plus permanently disabled individuals and certain veterans. You apply once through the Terrebonne Parish Assessor's Office. The freeze blocks reassessment increases for as long as you stay eligible and occupy the home as your primary residence.

How do I apply for the homestead exemption in Terrebonne Parish?

Visit the Terrebonne Parish Assessor's Office at 8026 Main Street, Suite 501, Houma, or use the online portal. Bring your recorded deed and a Louisiana ID showing the property as your address. You file once and the exemption renews automatically. New buyers must refile after a purchase, because the exemption ties to the owner, not the property.

How is Terrebonne Parish personal property tax calculated for businesses?

Business personal property (equipment, furniture, inventory) is assessed at 15 percent of fair market value, set using depreciated original cost. Annual returns are due April 1. Miss the deadline and the assessor can estimate the value. Business owners should file accurately and keep depreciation schedules, because assessor overstatement of asset values is a common source of excess tax.

Can I appeal a Terrebonne assessment if I already paid my tax bill?

Paying your tax bill does not waive your right to appeal the assessment. The appeal and the payment run on separate tracks. You still have to meet the September 15 LTC deadline no matter your payment status. If your appeal succeeds after you've already paid, you can request a refund or credit from the Tax Collector for the overpayment.

What is the difference between assessed value and taxable value in Terrebonne Parish?

Assessed value is fair market value times the 10 percent residential ratio. Taxable value is assessed value minus any exemptions, mainly the $75,000 homestead exemption. Your tax bill is taxable value times the total millage for your district. Example: $200,000 market value = $20,000 assessed value. Minus $7,500 homestead exemption = $12,500 taxable value.

Sources

1. Louisiana Constitution, Article VII, Section 18 (via Louisiana State Legislature): Residential property assessed at 10 percent of fair market value; homestead exemption of $75,000 of assessed value; 10 percent cap on reassessment increases for homesteaded property
2. Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 47, Chapter 1 (Ad Valorem Taxation), La. R.S. 47:2323 (via Louisiana State Legislature): La. R.S. 47:2323 requires assessors to determine fair market value using sales comparison, cost, and income approaches; personal property assessment requirements and return deadlines
3. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, property tax exemptions: Additional property tax exemptions available for Louisiana veterans with service-connected disabilities
4. Louisiana Tax Commission, taxpayer appeal forms and procedures: Formal appeals to the Louisiana Tax Commission must be filed by September 15 of the tax year; filing fee is $25 for residential property; LTC Form 3103.A is the Notice of Appeal
5. FEMA National Flood Insurance Program, flood zone designations: Properties in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas Zone A or AE face higher flood insurance costs and market value impacts relevant to assessment appeals
6. LSU AgCenter, Louisiana homeowner and property tax guidance: LSU extension publishes guides on homestead exemptions and property tax basics for Louisiana homeowners
7. Louisiana Tax Commission, real property reappraisal and reassessment rules: Louisiana assessors conduct a quadrennial (four-year) reappraisal of all parish property as required by state law
8. La. R.S. 47:1992, open books requirement (via Louisiana State Legislature): Louisiana law requires assessors to open their books for public inspection for 15 days, typically the last two weeks of August