Does a Sunroom Addition Raise My Property Taxes?

Adding a sunroom to your house can provide an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without swatting at mosquitoes, sitting in the rain or braving extreme temperatures. It's a pleasant place to relax with friends and family. It's also expensive, and not just in construction costs. A sunroom can increase your property taxes by adding square footage to your house and raising the home's value.

Most state and local governments use their own math formulas to establish property tax rates. The square footage of your home plays a role, since in most cases a larger home is worth more money than a smaller home. Adding even a modestly sized sunroom to your home increases your square footage, and the tax assessor will consider that when establishing the tax rate on your property.

Home improvement experts may argue over whether a sunroom adds enough value to your home to get a return on your investment. It's still an upgrade to your property, however, and the condition of your home improves when you add a sunroom. Since the building permits required for the sunroom are processed through the tax assessor's office, this may leave you on the hook for paying higher taxes.