New assessments have been mailed out to 5-million Ontario properties, including those in Sarnia-Lambton.
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) reviews property values every four years.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says about a third of assessments usually increase, a third go down, and the other third stay the same.
"Along the lake, there will be about a 7% average increase and that's a lot less that what's occured in previous years," says Bradley.
"Hopefully the impacts will be limited. I should make it clear that the city does not gain from the assessment changes. It's all from the same pie, it just gets re-distributed."
Bradley says assessments depend on the type of property you own and what part of the community you reside in.
He expects area farmland values to increase given the current market.
The average residential property in Sarnia is valued at $196,000.
