Denton Tax Protests - by Value and Property Type

The demand for housing around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is rising, and with it property values and taxes for Denton County. Once a collection of rural towns and suburbs, the area has found itself one of the hottest real estate markets in the nation. To combat this ever-growing tide of taxes, more taxpayers than ever are protesting their taxes, with over 27% of residents appealing their values in 2024. Enroll in O’Conner’s Property Tax Protection Program™ today, and secure the future of your property. There will never be an upfront cost or hidden fee, and you will never pay unless you lower your taxes. Enroll, relax, and save.

Total Parcels and Total Protests Denton CADSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Thousands
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Parcels	415.69	423.60	398.28	450.90	463.00	466.72	488.09	448.53	458.60	473.12	454.67
Total Protests Filed	42.37	48.04	63.44	72.05	89.06	95.07	96.21	91.69	105.99	133.78	123.03

Texas property owners should protest annually since Mass appraisal used by appraisal districts includes many errors based on limited resources. About 500 appraisers value all 20 million Texas tax parcels; about 40,000 per appraiser. Another 1,500 appraisers measure new construction.

DCAD Tax Protests

Denton County has seen tax protests quintuple in the past decade, and it is no surprise, as the Denton Central Appraisal District (DCAD) is handing out inflated taxes like candy. While certainly one of the most hip, trendy, and exclusive areas in Texas, Denton County is also one of the most overvalued. Thankfully, the people of the area are becoming aware of their rights and even more will challenge DCAD in the future.

While any Texan has the right to protest their taxes, it takes a concerted effort to get the best deal through every layer of the appeals process. That is where O’Connor steps in. One of the biggest firms in America that focuses on property tax consulting , O’Connor has been a Texas favorite for over 50 years. Boasting the people, assets, and experience needed to defeat DCAD, O’Connor is the perfect organization to have in your corner.

DCAD Total Parcels

All real property in Texas is combined into bundles known as parcels. Based on certain acreage, parcels are a way for DCAD and other taxing entities to quantify and qualify what can be taxed. As Texas has no income tax, property taxes are the only way for school districts, MUDs, and local governments to get the funding they need. Denton County has a total of 454,670 parcels as of 2024, and they are some of the most coveted in all of Texas.

Total Protests Denton CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Thousands
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Protests	42.37	48.04	63.44	72.05	89.06	95.07	96.21	91.69	105.99	133.78	123.03
Single Family Home Protests	25.26	26.47	38.08	46.30	52.93	63.10	66.08	56.89	72.49	91.07	82.38
Commercial / Other Protests	17.11	21.57	25.36	25.76	36.13	31.96	30.13	34.80	33.50	42.71	40.65

Texas property owners should protest annually since It is their right.

Total Protests

123,030 taxpayers in Denton protested in 2024, riding a wave of discontent that has been rising for more than a decade. Total protests have tripled since 2014, with each year seeing a significant rise in protests of all types and all properties. While commercial and related properties are worth the most money overall, family homes are always the hardest fought.

Single family homes have been the standard-bearer for tax appeals, tabulating 82,380 protests in 2024 alone. Homeowners have traditionally been in this role due to the number of homes when compared to other property types. Commercial, industrial, and multi family housing combined for 40,650 protests.

% of Parcels Protested Denton CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Percent
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Percent Protested	10.19%	11.34%	15.93%	15.98%	19.24%	20.37%	19.71%	20.44%	23.11%	28.28%	27.06%

Texas property owners should protest annually since About 60% of appeals are successful.

DCAD - Percent Parcels Protested

As with other elite and wealthy counties, Denton County sees a much higher average of parcels protested than other parts of Texas. 27.06% of all parcels were protested in 2024, making Denton County one of the highest percentages in Texas. The average percentage of parcels protested in Texas is only 12.94%, putting the area at over double the rate. Denton is roughly tied with neighboring Collin County, which has a protest rate of 26.31%.

Protests by Property Type Denton CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Thousands
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Number	42.37	48.04	63.44	72.05	89.06	95.07	96.21	91.69	105.99	133.78	123.03
Single Family	25.26	26.47	38.08	46.30	52.93	63.10	66.08	56.89	72.49	91.07	82.38
Multi-Family Res	1.06	0.71	1.37	1.68	1.77	2.00	2.38	2.01	2.26	2.52	2.43
Commercial	4.92	2.70	4.69	5.45	5.39	6.39	6.67	6.50	7.40	8.66	7.32
All Other	11.13	18.17	19.31	18.63	28.98	23.57	21.08	26.29	23.84	31.53	30.90

Texas property owners should protest annually since Correcting an error in the appraisal district’s description of your property can reap savings in future years.

DCAD Protests by Property Type

No real estate type in Texas is affected negatively by high taxes as much as family homes. The elderly can find their home no longer affordable due to a fixed income, a child may not be able to take over a family home due to costs, or a home for generations is forced into being sold. This is the specter of gentrification, and it is becoming the bane of the people that have called Denton County home for decades. Of the 123,032 total protests in 2024, 82,382 were for single family homes.

While homes make up 66.96% of all protests, the other property types are just as important in the balance of things. 7,324 commercial properties and 2,430 multi family homes were also protested, along with 30,900 protests that encompass utilities, industrial, and oil/gas properties.

Value of Property Protested by TypeSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Billions of $
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Value Protested Total	27.74	31.16	42.08	47.64	57.01	66.72	73.85	63.76	89.66	127.90	98.33
Single Family	6.41	8.34	13.03	15.84	19.65	22.98	25.73	22.26	33.95	51.88	43.30
Multi-Family Res	4.41	5.17	5.95	7.01	8.06	9.59	10.78	11.49	13.43	15.86	17.10
Commercial	10.63	11.36	13.97	15.76	16.01	20.87	22.96	20.63	33.93	38.03	26.83
All Other	6.28	6.30	9.13	9.04	13.30	13.28	14.38	9.38	8.35	22.13	11.10

DCAD Value of Property Protested by Type

The value of the single family home is driving protests across the county, for both legacy owners and newcomers. Of the $98.33 billion in value protested in 2024, $43.33 billion was for single family homes. Representing 44.04% of the whole, single family homes have pulled ahead of traditional king commercial properties. This trend has been going on since 2014, and is both a result of the housing crisis and the continued growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Housing is being pushed to the forefront and will become an even bigger story as 2026 comes and passes.

$26.83 billion in commercial taxable value was contested in 2024, along with $17.10 billion in multi family homes. Denton County might be known as a suburban area, but it is an economic powerhouse all of its own. There was also an impressive $11.10 billion in value saved for a combination of industrial and utilities, representing a diverse economy in the county.