Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion
The Homestead/Farmstead program reduces the homeowner’s school property taxes, and the savings are reflected on your school property tax bill.
What is a Homestead Property
A homestead property is a dwelling primarily used by an owner as their permanent home. The owner may be living temporarily at another location, but they must intend to of return to that home. No one can have more than one permanent home at any given time. Homestead properties do not include rental units, vacation homes, camps, or other homes in which the owner does not live on a permanent basis.
What is a Farmstead Property
A farmstead property includes all buildings and structures that are used primarily for agricultural purposes (such as housing animals, storing supplies, production or machinery) on a farm of ten contiguous acres or more in size. The farmstead must be the permanent residence of at least one owner, as defined under the homestead definition. The farmstead exclusion would be applied to buildings and structures that are not already exempt from real property taxation under other laws.
How To Apply
Residents can pick up the Cumberland County Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion applications at the Cumberland County Assessment office or Cumberland County Act 1 Application (PDF). Applications must be mailed or dropped off at the Cumberland County Assessment Office, Historic Courthouse, One courthouse Square, Carlisle PA, 17013, between December 15, and March 1, Monday - Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.
If you have any questions, contact the Cumberland County Assessment office at 717.240.6350.
Please note: Filing of the application does not guarantee automatic approval or tax exclusion. Approval letters go out to applicants in February. Approved Applications are valid until there is a change in ownership, or use of an approved property. If you have an approved application on file, you do not need to reapply.
Instructions & Application