Denton County ARB Hearing: What to Expect
If your Denton County property tax protest isn't resolved during the informal hearing with a Denton CAD appraiser, your case proceeds to a formal hearing with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent panel that makes binding decisions on disputed property values. Here's how to be ready.
What Is the Denton County ARB?
The Appraisal Review Board is composed of Denton County residents — not employees of the appraisal district — who are appointed to resolve property tax disputes. They hear evidence from both the homeowner and Denton CAD, then vote on the final appraised value.
When and Where
ARB hearings in Denton County run from approximately May through August each year. Hearings are conducted at the Denton Central Appraisal District office at 3911 Morse St, Denton, TX 76208.
Denton CAD must give you at least 15 days' notice of your hearing date, time, and location.
How to Participate
Denton County offers multiple ways to participate in your ARB hearing:
- In person: Appear at the Denton CAD office at your scheduled time
- By telephone: Request a phone hearing when you file your protest
- By videoconference: Remote video hearings are available upon request
- By affidavit: Submit a sworn written statement with all your evidence instead of appearing. Include your name, property address, account number, hearing date, and complete supporting documentation.
What to Bring
- Comparable property data: A printed list of 3-5 similar properties with their appraised values and $/sqft. Denton Value generates this automatically from Denton CAD's own records.
- Recent sales data: Sale dates, addresses, and prices for comparable homes that sold for less than your appraised value.
- Photos: Dated photos showing any condition issues — foundation problems, aging roof, outdated fixtures, flood risk areas, or adjacency to commercial zones or railroad tracks.
- Repair estimates: Written estimates from licensed contractors for any deferred maintenance or needed repairs.
- Your Denton CAD notice: The notice of appraised value with your account number and current assessment.
How the Hearing Works
Residential ARB hearings in Denton County typically last 15-20 minutes:
- Both you and the Denton CAD representative are sworn in
- You present your evidence first (aim for 5-10 minutes)
- Denton CAD presents their evidence and analysis
- Both sides can ask questions and respond to each other's points
- The ARB panel deliberates and announces their decision
Be direct and organized. Lead with your strongest comparable properties and the $/sqft gap. The panel appreciates homeowners who present clear data rather than general frustration about rising taxes.
If You Disagree with the Decision
If the ARB decision doesn't go your way, you have three options:
- Binding arbitration: File within 60 days for homesteads appraised at $5 million or less. Deposit ranges from $450 to $1,550 depending on value.
- District court appeal: File a petition within 60 days. Requires partial tax payment and typically legal representation.
- SOAH appeal: File within 30 days with a $1,500 deposit. Heard by an Administrative Law Judge.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't compare your home to properties in different Denton CAD neighborhoods or vastly different sizes
- Don't argue about tax rates — the ARB only determines appraised values
- Don't skip the informal hearing — the majority of Denton County protests are resolved at that stage
- Don't bring irrelevant evidence (total tax bill, personal financial circumstances, etc.)
- Don't use comps from Collin County for a Denton County protest — stay within the same appraisal district
Sources and evidence for Denton County
Prepared by Denton Value. Filing resources checked September 4, 2026.
Start with the Denton Central Appraisal District property record and your current notice. Our property pages organize imported public assessment records and available comparable evidence. Check the tax year and data dates shown on each page: a prior-year record is useful history, but does not establish the value on a new notice.
Comparable homes are candidates for review. Verify their size, age, condition, location, and sale details before using them. Value per square foot helps screen candidates; it does not account for every difference. Estimated savings depend on the final assessment, exemptions, assessment limits, and applicable tax rates.
Texas filing and valuation checks
For 2026, the ordinary May 15 filing date has passed. A notice mailed later can have a later deadline. Confirm the date on your notice and the DentonCAD filing instructions. Review Texas Comptroller protest guidance for procedures and owner rights.
Separate a market-value argument from unequal appraisal, and compare the same tax year. A homestead cap or exemption can make taxable value differ from market value; lowering market value may not change the bill immediately. Texas sales coverage is incomplete because sale prices are not universally disclosed.
Check the source before filing
Denton Value is an independent research tool. Verify the current procedure with Denton Central Appraisal District, save a copy of your evidence, and retain your filing confirmation. The appraisal authority or review board decides the outcome.