Chesterfield County, Virginia — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → virginia. This page covers how Chesterfield County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Chesterfield (unincorporated county seat)
• Population: ~364,548 (2020 Census; FIPS 51041)
• Recording unit type: County (Chesterfield County is a county recording unit; note that the adjacent City of Colonial Heights and City of Petersburg are independent cities with separate recording offices — see independent-city-recording)
• FIPS: 51041
• Parent legal framework: virginia
• County note: Chesterfield County is the most populous county in the Richmond metropolitan area. The county treasurer and circuit court conduct all real-estate tax collections and judicial sale proceedings independently of adjacent cities.

C1. Local Tax Sale

• Conducts own sale? Yes, but through a court-appointed special commissioner under Virginia’s standard judicial-sale procedure (Va. Code §§ 58.1-3965–58.1-3969). The county’s identified special commissioner / judicial sales attorney is Mr. James W. Elliott, 7100 Route 17, P.O. Box 1410, Yorktown, VA 23692, phone 757-898-7000. — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings, Late Payments and Judicial Sales

• Platform: The special commissioner has discretion to conduct the sale by (1) private bid, (2) public auction, or (3) listing the property with a real estate agent. No single named third-party online auction platform (TACS, forsaleatauction.biz, GovEase, RealAuction, Bid4Assets) was identified on the county’s official page or TACS’s current listings as of 2026-06-02. (Specific auction platform and URL — needs_verification.) — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• Sale calendar: No fixed annual schedule. The judicial process typically takes several months to 18 months from referral. Properties become eligible when taxes remain unpaid through December 31 following the second anniversary of the tax due date (Va. Code § 58.1-3965). No next known sale date was identified on official pages as of 2026-06-02. (Next known sale date — needs_verification.) — sources: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page; virginia (§ 58.1-3965 eligibility trigger)

• Rate within statutory range / local delinquency charges:

  • Penalty: 10% late payment penalty applied the day following the due date.
  • Interest: 10% annual interest accrues the month following the due date.
  • Administrative fee: $30 fee may apply 30 days after a delinquency notice per Va. Code § 58.1-3958.
  • Real estate tax rate: $0.89 per$100 of assessed value (2026). — sources: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page; Real Estate Assessments page

• Registration & deposit: Properties are sold “as-is, with all faults and without any warranty.” Deposit requirements are “percentage-based, with balance due within a specified timeframe.” Specific percentages are not disclosed on the county’s official page — buyers must review the specific sale advertisement. (Specific deposit percentage and payment timeline — needs_verification.) — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• Bidder requirements: Prospective bidders must conduct own property inspections at their expense and complete title searches at their expense. “Neither the Treasurer nor county attorney typically grants property access for inspection.” Buyers accept a Special Warranty Deed only (no title insurability guarantee from the county). Per standard Virginia practice and TACS procedures applicable statewide, bidders may not owe delinquent taxes to the local taxing jurisdiction and cannot be defendants in pending tax suits filed by that jurisdiction. (Whether Chesterfield County enforces additional bidder disqualifications beyond state defaults — needs_verification.) — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• Delinquent list location: The county publishes notice of delinquent real estate tax suits as required by Va. Code § 58.1-3967 (≥30 days newspaper publication before filing suit). The specific newspaper(s) of record are not identified on the county’s official page. No online delinquent-property list URL was found on official county pages as of 2026-06-02. (Online delinquent list URL or publication name — needs_verification.)

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

• Where/how to redeem locally: Property owners may redeem at any time during the judicial sale proceedings by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest, and costs to the Chesterfield County Treasurer’s Office. — sources: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page; virginia (§ 58.1-3965)

• Local fees: 10% penalty + 10% annual interest + $30 administrative fee (after delinquency notice per § 58.1-3958) + attorney’s fees and costs of the judicial sale proceeding added to the redemption payoff. — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• Redemption contact:

  • Chesterfield County Treasurer’s Office
    • Treasurer: Rebecca R. Longnaker, CPA, MGT
    • Phone: 804-748-1201
    • Email: treasurer@chesterfield.gov
    • Address: 9901 Lori Road, Room 101, Chesterfield, VA 23832
    • Mailing: P.O. Box 70, Chesterfield, VA 23832
    • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. — sources: Treasurer’s Office page; Pay Your Taxes page

• Deviations from state default: None identified. Virginia provides no post-sale redemption right (see virginia § 58.1-3967); redemption must occur before the auction/sale date. An installment agreement (≤72 months, Va. Code § 58.1-3965) may be available; Chesterfield County offers a Tax Payment Plan through the Treasurer’s Office. (Local installment agreement form and specific procedure for suspending judicial sale — needs_verification.) — source: Tax Payment Plan Application

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

• Claim filing venue: Per Va. Code § 58.1-3967, surplus proceeds from the judicial tax sale are deposited with the clerk of the circuit court where the tax suit was filed — in this county, the Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. The office maintains reports listing funds held by case number. Surplus claims are made by petition to the Chesterfield County Circuit Court.

  • Clerk: Amanda L. Pohl
  • Address: 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832
  • Mailing: P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0909
  • Record Room phone: 804-717-6517 (for excess funds list requests)
  • Civil Division phone: 804-717-6981; email: CCCCivilDivision@chesterfield.gov — source: Chesterfield County Circuit Court page

• Claim form: No Chesterfield County-specific surplus petition form was identified on the county’s official website as of 2026-06-02. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office provides an “Excess Funds and Foreclosure Lists” service but does not publish a standalone surplus claim form online. Claimants should contact the Record Room (804-717-6517) or Civil Division (804-717-6981) for current form guidance. (Specific surplus petition form name or number — needs_verification.) — source: Chesterfield County Circuit Court page

• Local deadline notes: Two (2) years after the date of confirmation of the sale (Va. Code § 58.1-3967). After that period, the statute directs unclaimed surplus to the locality, but this escheat provision has been held constitutionally suspect as applied where the tax lien is already satisfied — see mckeithen-v-city-of-richmond-2023. — source: virginia (§ 58.1-3967)

• Excess funds list: The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office publishes monthly reports listing funds held by case number, but notes these reports “do not identify the specific source of the funds, nor do they include contact information for the payees.” Monthly reports are two pages and cost $1 total ($0.50/page). Copies can be requested:

  • By phone: 804-717-6517 (Visa/MasterCard accepted; $2 processing fee)
  • By mail: Circuit Court Clerk, ATTN: Record Room, P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0909 (include SASE) — source: Chesterfield County Circuit Court page

• Unclaimed-funds list published: Yes — monthly case-number reports (see above), though not in a publicly-accessible online format. No online URL for an unclaimed-surplus list was identified.

• Unclaimed-funds list URL: Not found. See the Virginia Dept. of Treasury’s unclaimed property portal at https://www.vamoneysearch.gov/ for the state unclaimed property program (a separate program from court-registry tax-sale surplus).

• Contact:

  • Record Room (excess funds lists): 804-717-6517; CCCLandRecords@chesterfield.gov
  • Civil Division (surplus petitions): 804-717-6981; CCCCivilDivision@chesterfield.gov — source: Chesterfield County Circuit Court page

▸ For Investors / Operators — Chesterfield County conducts judicial tax sales through court-appointed Special Commissioner James W. Elliott; the sale method (private bid, public auction, or real estate agent listing) is at the commissioner’s discretion, and no single online platform has been confirmed for this county. Properties are sold as-is with a Special Warranty Deed only; buyers receive no access for inspection before sale and must conduct independent title searches. The county imposes a 10% penalty and 10% annual interest on delinquent taxes, plus a $30 administrative fee. Court confirmation of the judicial sale is required before the deed is delivered; the proceeds distribution order (suit costs → delinquent taxes → lienholders by priority → former owner) follows Va. Code § 58.1-3967. Monitor the county’s Delinquent Billings page (chesterfield.gov/3959) and contact the Treasurer (804-748-1201) or Attorney Elliott (757-898-7000) for upcoming sale notices.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus proceeds from Chesterfield County judicial tax sales are deposited in the Chesterfield County Circuit Court registry. Claims are made by petition to the circuit court (Clerk Amanda L. Pohl, 9500 Courthouse Road) within 2 years of the date of sale confirmation (Va. Code § 58.1-3967). Monthly reports listing held funds by case number are available from the Record Room for $1.00 (two pages at$0.50/page); contact 804-717-6517 or CCCLandRecords@chesterfield.gov. After 2 years, unclaimed surplus is directed to the locality’s general fund — though that provision has been held constitutionally suspect where the tax lien is already satisfied; see mckeithen-v-city-of-richmond-2023.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Virginia sheriff note: Virginia tax sales are special-commissioner sales (judicial) or trustee sales (deed-of-trust foreclosure). The sheriff does not conduct real-estate tax sales in Chesterfield County; the Sheriff’s Office handles money-judgment execution sales. See virginia § 5. Sale Procedure Playbooks.

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Proceeds distribution order (confirmed by official county page):

  1. Suit costs and attorney fees
  2. Delinquent taxes and current tax prorated share
  3. Lien creditors (mortgages, judgment liens, tax liens) by priority
  4. Remaining proceeds to the property owner This mirrors Va. Code § 58.1-3967 and is consistent with virginia’s framework. — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• Special warranty deed: Buyers receive a Special Warranty Deed only — no general warranty; no title insurability guarantee from the county. Buyers must undertake their own title searches. — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• As-is sales: Properties are sold “as-is, with all faults and without any warranty.” The Treasurer and county attorney do not grant property access for inspection. — source: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page

• Sale method discretion: The special commissioner may sell by private bid, public auction, or real estate agent listing — the method is not fixed. This differs from counties (e.g., Fairfax) that consistently use a single named online platform.

• No tax lien certificate sales: Virginia law does not authorize the sale of tax lien certificates; only deed sales are permitted (Va. Code §§ 58.1-3965–3969; see virginia).

• Deviations from state default: None identified beyond the specific operational details above. Chesterfield County follows the standard Virginia judicial-sale framework. (Any local ordinance deviating from the state framework — needs_verification.)

• Tax payment plan: Chesterfield County offers a Tax Payment Plan through the Treasurer’s Office, allowing taxpayers to arrange installment payments for delinquent accounts. Applying does not guarantee approval and does not prevent additional interest and fees from accruing. Applications submitted online at https://www.chesterfield.gov/4936/Online-Tax-Payment-Plan-Application or by calling 804-748-1201. — source: Tax Payment Plan Application page

• DMV stop: Virginia’s Vehicle Registration Withholding program applies; Chesterfield County charges a $25 fee per DMV stop release.

C6. Records Access

Land records note: The ccclandrecords.org portal provides deed records from 1967 to present and wills from 1994 to present. Full-document access requires a subscription ($600/year or$300/six months per user); index-only access is free. Physical records dating from 1749 are held at the Clerk’s Office. eRecording is available through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN.

C7. Meta

sources:

• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/3959/Delinquent-Billings-Late-Payments-and-Ju”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — judicial sales process; 10% penalty; 10% interest; $30 admin fee; special commissioner (James W. Elliott); sale method discretion; proceeds distribution; as-is; special warranty deed; redemption during proceedings
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/727/Treasurer”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Treasurer Rebecca R. Longnaker; delinquent billings sub-page navigation
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/734/Pay-Your-Taxes”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Treasurer address (9901 Lori Road Room 101); phone 804-748-1201; email; Citizen Portal URL
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/4936/Online-Tax-Payment-Plan-Application”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Tax payment plan; interest accrues; does not release DMV hold; reference to Delinquent Billings page
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/3958/Statement-and-Billing-Information”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — confirmed /3959 as Delinquent Billings page URL
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/1127/Circuit-Court”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Clerk Amanda L. Pohl; 9500 Courthouse Road; 804-748-1241; circuitcourtclerk@chesterfield.gov; division phones; excess funds/foreclosure lists; $.50/page;$1 monthly report; Record Room 804-717-6517
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/1278/Land-Records”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — land records; deeds from 1967; wills from 1994; ccclandrecords.org; recording hours 8am-3:30pm
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/823/Real-Estate-Assessments”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — READ database at /828; Parcel Viewer ArcGIS; $0.89/$100 tax rate 2026; 804-748-1321; assessor@chesterfield.gov; 6801 Mimms Loop
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/310/Commissioner-of-the-Revenue”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Jenefer S. Hughes; 9901 Lori Road Bldg 38 Room 165; 804-748-1281; cor@chesterfield.gov
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.chesterfield.gov/Sheriff”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Sheriff Karl S. Leonard; 9500 Courthouse Road; 804-748-1261; ccso@chesterfield.gov
• {type: records_portal, url: “https://www.ccclandrecords.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — CCC Land Records: deed/will search; subscription $600/yr; free index; records from 1749 (in person)
• {type: records_portal, url: “https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f07d4f7e57e846cfa86ccfcdf614ec22”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Chesterfield County GIS Parcel Viewer (ArcGIS Experience)
• {type: records_portal, url: “https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/CJISWeb/circuit.jsp”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Virginia Circuit Court case search (name/case#/hearing date); statewide searches not possible
• {type: records_portal, url: “https://chesterfield.virginiainteractive.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — Citizen Portal: tax payment; personal property and real estate accounts
• {type: agency, url: “https://www.vamoneysearch.gov/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} — VA unclaimed property (state program, separate from court-registry surplus)
• {type: statute, url: “https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter39/section58.1-3965/”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — pre-sale redemption; 72-mo installment; delinquency trigger (via parent page)
• {type: statute, url: “https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter39/section58.1-3967/”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — surplus to owner/lienors; 2-yr claim; clerk holds registry (via parent page)
• {type: statute, url: “https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter39/section58.1-3969/”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — special commissioner; appraisal; court confirmation (via parent page)

needs_verification:

• Auction platform / website for Chesterfield County tax sales (TACS, forsaleatauction.biz, GovEase, or other) — the county page says the special commissioner has discretion; no named platform was identified on official pages or TACS’s current listings as of 2026-06-02.
• Next known sale date — no upcoming sale was identified on official county pages or TACS as of 2026-06-02; contact Treasurer 804-748-1201 or Attorney Elliott 757-898-7000.
• Specific deposit percentage and payment timeline for judicial sales (county page says “percentage-based” but does not disclose the percentage).
• Surplus petition form name or number at Chesterfield Circuit Court — no form identified on official pages; contact Record Room 804-717-6517 or Civil Division 804-717-6981.
• Local installment agreement form and specific Treasurer procedure for suspending judicial sale action under Va. Code § 58.1-3965 (72-month max).
• Online delinquent list URL or name of newspaper(s) of record for required publication notices.
• Any local ordinance or administrative rule deviating from the standard Virginia judicial-sale framework (none found in retrieved pages).
• Direct READ database URL (the county’s internal page at /828 initializes an app whose embed URL was not extractable; contact 804-748-1321 or try chesterfield.gov/828 directly).
• Additional bidder disqualification criteria specific to Chesterfield County beyond standard Virginia/TACS statewide practice.

cross_links: virginia, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, third-party-recovery-rules, treasurer-sale, due-process-notice, mckeithen-v-city-of-richmond-2023, tyler-v-hennepin-county, heirs-property, independent-city-recording, federal-tax-lien-redemption, bankruptcy-automatic-stay

changelog:

• 2026-06-02 — Initial population. Primary sources retrieved: Chesterfield County Delinquent Billings page, Treasurer page, Pay Your Taxes page, Tax Payment Plan page, Circuit Court page, Land Records page, Real Estate Assessments page, Commissioner of the Revenue page, Sheriff page, CCC Land Records portal, ArcGIS Parcel Viewer, Virginia Courts CJIS, Citizen Portal. Statutes via parent virginia page. TACS website searched — no Chesterfield County listings found.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Chesterfield County conducts judicial tax sales through court-appointed Special Commissioner James W. Elliott; the sale method (private bid, public auction, or real estate agent listing) is at the commissioner’s discretion, and no single online platform has been confirmed for this county. Properties are sold as-is with a Special Warranty Deed only; buyers receive no access for inspection before sale and must conduct independent title searches. The county imposes a 10% penalty and 10% annual interest on delinquent taxes, plus a $30 administrative fee. Court confirmation of the judicial sale is required before the deed is delivered; the proceeds distribution order (suit costs → delinquent taxes → lienholders by priority → former owner) follows Va. Code § 58.1-3967. Monitor the county’s Delinquent Billings page (chesterfield.gov/3959) and contact the Treasurer (804-748-1201) or Attorney Elliott (757-898-7000) for upcoming sale notices.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus proceeds from Chesterfield County judicial tax sales are deposited in the Chesterfield County Circuit Court registry. Claims are made by petition to the circuit court (Clerk Amanda L. Pohl, 9500 Courthouse Road) within 2 years of the date of sale confirmation (Va. Code § 58.1-3967). Monthly reports listing held funds by case number are available from the Record Room for $1.00 (two pages at$0.50/page); contact 804-717-6517 or CCCLandRecords@chesterfield.gov. After 2 years, unclaimed surplus is directed to the locality’s general fund — though that provision has been held constitutionally suspect where the tax lien is already satisfied; see mckeithen-v-city-of-richmond-2023.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Chesterfield County, Virginia local procedure from the cited primary sources as of the last_verified date. Sale calendars, deposit terms, office personnel, contact details, and the auction platform vary sale-to-sale and change frequently; always verify against the current sale advertisement, the Chesterfield County Treasurer’s Office, and the Circuit Court Clerk before acting. The legal framework governing redemption rights, surplus entitlement, and sale procedure is described on the parent page virginia and the cited statutes. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.