‘Green’ roofs, walls can earn you realty tax discount in QC

It pays to have “green” walls or rooftops in Quezon City.

Owners of residential, commercial or industrial buildings can avail themselves of up to 20-percent discount in real property taxes if they allot the building’s roof or walls as space for plants, according to a recently signed ordinance.

Ordinance No. 2399, signed by Mayor Herbert Bautista, is in line with the policy of the city government to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

The measure was authored by Councilors

The discount on real property tax is available for five years starting from the initial assessment. The new measure repeals Ordinance No. 1940 which requires new buildings to have a green rooftop and provides the tax discount for 10 years.

Applicants for discounts must submit a certification from their respective barangay (village) council, together with photos of the green walls or rooftop, to the City Assessor’s Office during payment of annual tax on real properties. The photo should include an image of a daily broadsheet to indicate the date it was taken.

A 100-percent green coverage of either the rooftop or the exterior wall area will entitle the building owner to a 20-percent discount.

A 15-percent discount will be granted to three-fourth green coverage, 10 percent for half, and 5 percent for one-fourth coverage.