Wake County Fire Tax District Wake County · FY 2026–27
Rates effective July 1, 2026 (FY 2026–27) · Verified July 3, 2026
$0.6596
combined rate per $100
county $0.5371 + district $0.1225
$2,638
per year on a $400,000 home
$220 per month
99,487
parcels in this district
Wake County consolidated its patchwork of volunteer fire districts into a single countywide Fire Tax District, so unincorporated Wake pays one uniform fire rate — and, by design, so does the Town of Wendell, the only municipality inside the district. A few fringe areas served by out-of-county departments (and RDU airport, which runs its own fire service) pay no fire levy at all; those parcels are mapped as county-only.
Estimated annual tax in Wake County Fire Tax District
| Assessed home value | Annual tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $1,649 | $137 |
| $400,000 | $2,638 | $220 |
| $600,000 | $3,958 | $330 |
At the combined $0.6596 rate per $100 of assessed value. Excludes flat fees (e.g. solid waste) and any special assessments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Wake County Fire Tax District tax rate for FY 2026–27?
$0.1225 per $100 of assessed value, on top of Wake County's $0.5371 — a combined $0.6596. Each levy appears as its own line on the county tax bill.
How much does the Wake County Fire Tax District levy add to a typical bill?
On a $400,000 property, the district levy itself is $490 of the $2,638 annual total.
Why do unincorporated properties pay a fire-district tax?
Outside city limits, fire protection is funded by a dedicated service-district levy rather than a municipal budget. The district boundary — not distance to a station — determines which rate applies to a parcel.
Sources: Official Wake County 'Tax Rates' sheet (2026 column = FY2026-27) (retrieved 2026-07-03) · Tax rates & fees landing page (retrieved 2026-07-03)