Derbyshire Dales Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Derbyshire Dales is £2,444.70 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£112.28) on last year. That is £53.18 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 153rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (22%), so the average bill per home is about £2,474.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
Derbyshire Dales council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,629.80 | £162.98 | £135.82 | £1,222.35 | 3,700 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,901.43 | £190.14 | £158.45 | £1,426.07 | 7,670 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,173.07 | £217.31 | £181.09 | £1,629.80 | 7,750 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,444.70 | £244.47 | £203.73 | £1,833.52 | 5,890 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,987.97 | £298.80 | £249.00 | £2,240.98 | 5,310 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,531.23 | £353.12 | £294.27 | £2,648.42 | 3,300 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,074.50 | £407.45 | £339.54 | £3,055.88 | 2,160 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,889.40 | £488.94 | £407.45 | £3,667.05 | 140 |
- Derbyshire Dales
- England average
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Where your Derbyshire Dales council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Derbyshire Dales but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,444.70 Band D charge, £251.37 (10%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £251.37 | 10.3% | £223.44 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,708.99 | 69.9% | £1,519.10 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £308.60 | 12.6% | £274.31 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £98.41 | 4.0% | £87.48 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £77.33 | 3.2% | £68.74 |
- District council £251 10.3%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,709 69.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £309 12.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £98 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £77 3.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Derbyshire Dales; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Derbyshire Dales council tax history
Band D in Derbyshire Dales has risen from £1,655.68 in 2016/17 to £2,444.70 in 2026/27 — 48% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.2%, the 248th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Derbyshire Dales Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,444.70 | +4.8% | £2,173.07 |
| 2025/26 | £2,332.42 | +4.9% | £2,073.26 |
| 2024/25 | £2,224.06 | +4.7% | £1,976.94 |
| 2023/24 | £2,124.71 | +4.0% | £1,888.63 |
| 2022/23 | £2,042.49 | +2.9% | £1,815.55 |
| 2021/22 | £1,984.14 | +3.0% | £1,763.68 |
| 2020/21 | £1,926.31 | +2.4% | £1,712.28 |
| 2019/20 | £1,880.65 | +4.7% | £1,671.69 |
| 2018/19 | £1,796.44 | +4.8% | £1,596.84 |
| 2017/18 | £1,713.65 | +3.5% | £1,523.24 |
| 2016/17 | £1,655.68 | – | £1,471.72 |
Homes by council tax band in Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales has 35,920 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 32% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,173.07 a year (£217.31 a month over 10 instalments).
Derbyshire Dales compared with East Midlands
Derbyshire Dales is the 21st cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£12.71 more than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| North West Leicestershire | £2,418.20 | +3.4% |
| North Northamptonshire | £2,423.96 | +5.3% |
| Melton | £2,429.67 | +3.4% |
| Derbyshire Dales | £2,444.70 | +4.8% |
| North East Derbyshire | £2,466.57 | +4.7% |
| West Northamptonshire | £2,486.66 | +5.3% |
| Blaby | £2,490.22 | +3.5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Derbyshire Dales drops from £2,173.07 to £1,629.80.
- Council Tax Reduction: Derbyshire Dales 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).
Derbyshire Dales's 4.8% 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 empty homes in the Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales District Council charges a 100% premium on second homes, so a furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays double: £4,889.40 at the district-average Band D, or £5,975.93 at Band E. To end the premium you need to live in the home, sell it, or let it to someone as their main home. The council may visit to confirm.
Unlike most councils, the Dales still starts its long-term empty premium after two years, not one. A home unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for 2 to 5 years pays double, 5 to 10 years three times, and 10 years or more four times. The two-year clock belongs to the property and does not restart when it is sold.
| Status | Charge | Band D at district average (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Empty and unfurnished, under 2 years | 100% | £2,444.70 |
| Empty 2 to 5 years | 200% | £4,889.40 |
| Empty 5 to 10 years | 300% | £7,334.10 |
| Empty 10 years or more | 400% | £9,778.80 |
| Second home | 200% | £4,889.40 |
The Dales' own exceptions to the premiums
On top of the national exceptions that began on 1 April 2025, the council has approved local exceptions of its own:
- Armed forces: a member of the armed forces whose main home is near their work, but not in accommodation provided by the forces, is excepted from both premiums.
- Age-designated homes: retirement or age-restricted properties actively marketed for sale or rent can get up to a further 12 months after the national 12-month exception runs out.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas: a long-term empty home that is Grade I, II* or II listed or in a conservation area can be excepted for up to 12 months if substantial improvement work is delayed through no fault of the owner. The owner must show the VOA has refused to remove it from the council tax list and must intend it to become a permanent home. The Director of Housing must approve it.
- Rural huts: from 1 April 2026, huts or hutments in Band A with no connection to water or energy supplies and no waste collection are excepted from the second homes premium.
Paying in the Derbyshire Dales
Direct debit is the only way to choose your payment date: the 1st, 10th or 25th of the month. You can also pay by direct debit annually, half-yearly or quarterly. Bills are normally payable in 10 monthly instalments. A single annual payment is due by 1 April, and to get the full 12 monthly instalments your application must reach the council by 10 April. Bills are split between the district council (£251.37 at Band D), Derbyshire County Council (£1,708.99), the Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, and your town or parish council. Parish precepts average £77.33 but vary widely. The council publishes the full charge for every parish and band.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Derbyshire Dales?
£2,444.70 a year in 2026/27, or £244.47 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Derbyshire Dales?
Band C: 7,750 of 35,920 homes (22%). A Band C bill is £2,173.07 in 2026/27.
How much has Derbyshire Dales council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,332.42 to £2,444.70 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 48%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Derbyshire Dales?
District council £251.37; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,708.99; Police and crime commissioner £308.60; Fire and rescue authority £98.41; Parish/town council (average) £77.33 (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.
When does the empty homes premium start in Derbyshire Dales?
After a home has been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for two years, not the one year many councils now use. It is 100% for 2 to 5 years, 200% for 5 to 10 years and 300% after 10 years.
Are there local exceptions to the second homes premium in Derbyshire Dales?
Yes. Members of the armed forces living near work in non-service accommodation are excepted. Age-designated homes for sale or rent can get an extra 12 months after the national exception ends.
Can I pay Derbyshire Dales council tax quarterly?
Yes, by direct debit, which also offers annual and half-yearly payments, or monthly on the 1st, 10th or 25th.
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)
- Derbyshire Dales District Council – Council Tax premiums
- Derbyshire Dales District Council – Council Tax explained
- Derbyshire Dales District Council – Pay Council Tax
- Derbyshire Dales District Council – Council Tax charges 2026-27