Chichester Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Chichester is £2,469.68 for 2026/27, up 5.3% (£123.28) on last year. That is £78.16 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 177th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,717.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Chichester council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,646.45 | £164.65 | £137.20 | £1,234.84 | 3,210 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,920.86 | £192.09 | £160.07 | £1,440.65 | 6,620 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,195.27 | £219.53 | £182.94 | £1,646.45 | 15,440 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,469.68 | £246.97 | £205.81 | £1,852.26 | 13,190 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,018.50 | £301.85 | £251.54 | £2,263.87 | 9,710 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,567.32 | £356.73 | £297.28 | £2,675.49 | 6,510 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,116.13 | £411.61 | £343.01 | £3,087.10 | 6,060 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,939.36 | £493.94 | £411.61 | £3,704.52 | 1,380 |
- Chichester
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Chichester council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Chichester but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,469.68 Band D charge, £197.80 (8%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £197.80 | 8.0% | £175.82 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,890.36 | 76.5% | £1,680.32 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 11.4% | £250.59 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £99.61 | 4.0% | £88.54 |
- District council £198 8.0%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890 76.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 11.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £100 4.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Chichester; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Chichester council tax history
Band D in Chichester has risen from £1,555.72 in 2016/17 to £2,469.68 in 2026/27 — 59% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.7%, the 117th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Chichester Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,469.68 | +5.3% | £2,195.27 |
| 2025/26 | £2,346.40 | +4.9% | £2,085.69 |
| 2024/25 | £2,237.64 | +5.0% | £1,989.01 |
| 2023/24 | £2,130.28 | +5.0% | £1,893.58 |
| 2022/23 | £2,028.33 | +3.2% | £1,802.96 |
| 2021/22 | £1,965.46 | +5.2% | £1,747.08 |
| 2020/21 | £1,867.97 | +4.1% | £1,660.42 |
| 2019/20 | £1,793.80 | +5.7% | £1,594.49 |
| 2018/19 | £1,697.65 | +5.0% | £1,509.02 |
| 2017/18 | £1,617.02 | +3.9% | £1,437.35 |
| 2016/17 | £1,555.72 | – | £1,382.86 |
Homes by council tax band in Chichester
Chichester has 62,120 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 16% are in Bands A or B, fewer than in most areas — homes here are concentrated in the middle and upper bands. The most common band is C, which costs £2,195.27 a year (£219.53 a month over 10 instalments).
Chichester compared with South East
Chichester is the 29th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£5.77 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Wells | £2,446.15 | +4.2% |
| Worthing | £2,456.13 | +4.8% |
| Dover | £2,461.74 | +4.1% |
| Chichester | £2,469.68 | +5.3% |
| Tonbridge and Malling | £2,471.83 | +4.1% |
| Mid Sussex | £2,474.26 | +5% |
| Arun | £2,487.24 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Chichester drops from £2,195.27 to £1,646.45.
- Council Tax Reduction: Chichester runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Chichester's 5.3% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Second homes and holiday homes in Chichester district
Chichester District Council decided in March 2024 to charge a 100% premium on every substantially furnished home that is nobody's main residence, including second homes and holiday homes. It has applied since 1 April 2025. A Band D second home at the area average pays £4,939.36 in 2026/27, and a Band F home £7,134.63. There is no discount at all for second homes or empty properties.
Whether a home is your main residence decides whether the premium applies, and the law does not define it. Chichester says it weighs factors such as where your partner and children live and go to school, where you work, where you are registered to vote and with a GP, and which address you give your home insurer, DVLA and motor insurer. It also considers where most of your belongings are and which home you intend to return to.
Furnished holiday homes escape the premium only if a planning condition restricts them to holiday use or stops anyone living there for 28 days in a row. Being let to holidaymakers is not enough on its own. Homes actively marketed for sale or let get 12 months without the premium, which you have to apply for.
Empty homes premium
Since 1 April 2025 an unfurnished home empty for more than 12 months has been treated as long-term empty. Before that it took two years. Unfurnished homes get no discount at any stage and pay double once they reach a year empty. The premium rises with time, to 300% of the charge after 5 years and 400% after 10. For an average Band D home that is £9,878.72 a year after a decade empty.
Who set what for 2026/27
Chichester collects for four bodies, and each sets its own increase:
- Instalments are normally 10 monthly payments from April to January. You can also pay twice a year (April and September) or once a year in May.
- Direct debit dates are the 1st, 8th, 15th, 25th or 28th of the month. Payments show on bank statements as "CDC Revs".
| Body | Approx. share of bill | 2026/27 decision |
|---|---|---|
| West Sussex County Council | 77% | +4.99%, agreed 20 February 2026 |
| Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner | 11% | +£15 at Band D, agreed 9 February 2026 |
| Chichester District Council | 8% | +2.99%, agreed 3 March 2026 |
| Parish council | 4% (varies) | Set by each parish; no referendum limit |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Chichester?
£2,469.68 a year in 2026/27, or £246.97 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Chichester?
Band C: 15,440 of 62,120 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,195.27 in 2026/27.
How much has Chichester council tax gone up?
5.3% this year, from £2,346.40 to £2,469.68 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 59%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Chichester?
District council £197.80; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890.36; Police and crime commissioner £281.91; Parish/town council (average) £99.61 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
Do holiday lets in Chichester pay the second homes premium?
Yes, unless a planning condition restricts the property to holiday use or prevents occupation for 28 days in a row. In that case it is excepted. Otherwise a furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays 200% council tax.
How does Chichester decide which home is my main residence?
It looks at where your family lives, where your children go to school, where you work, vote and are registered with a GP, and which address you give your insurers and DVLA, among other factors.
Can I pay Chichester council tax in one go?
Yes. You can ask to pay once a year in May, twice a year (April and September), or in the standard 10 monthly instalments.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Chichester District Council – Second homes and empty properties
- Chichester District Council – Your new council tax bill 2026-27
- Chichester District Council – Set up a direct debit