Cook County Property Owners in Four Townships Can Begin 2026 Tax Assessment Appeals (Cook County, IL) — Property owners in four Cook County townships will have an opportunity to challenge their 2026 property tax assessments beginning Thursday, October 8, as the Cook County Board of Review opens its third group of townships for this year’s appeal season.
The third group includes Lyons, Northfield, Stickney and West Chicago townships. Property owners in those areas who believe their property has been assessed at an inaccurate value can submit an appeal through the Cook County Board of Review, the county’s independent body responsible for reviewing property assessments.
The filing period for Group 3 appeals will remain open through Friday, November 6.
The Board of Review encourages property owners to examine their assessments and determine whether the assessed value accurately reflects their property. An appeal may be appropriate when a taxpayer believes the assessment does not accurately represent the property’s fair market value or is inconsistent with assessments for comparable properties.
Appeals can be submitted online through the Board of Review’s website at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com. Property owners may also file through an attorney or an authorized tax representative.
Taxpayers who prefer to file in person can visit the Cook County Board of Review at 118 N. Clark St. in Chicago, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no fee to file an appeal.
The Board also currently has a pre-file period available to non-attorney filers. That option allows taxpayers to submit an appeal before the official opening date for their township. However, the pre-file period for a particular township ends once that township officially opens for filing.
For the four townships included in Group 3, that means the pre-file opportunity will end when the townships officially open Thursday.
The Board of Review is the second level of appeal in Cook County’s property tax assessment process. Its role is to provide taxpayers with an independent review of their assessments after the initial assessment process.
The appeal system is particularly significant given the volume of property assessment challenges handled by the board. During the 2025 tax year, the Board of Review processed a record 290,533 appeals, highlighting the number of Cook County property owners who seek review of their assessments each year.
All 38 townships in Cook County will have an opportunity to participate in the 2026 appeal process. Township opening dates are staggered throughout the season to manage the volume of filings and provide property owners with designated periods to submit their appeals.
Property owners in Lyons, Northfield, Stickney and West Chicago should pay particular attention to the October 8 opening date and November 6 filing deadline.
The Board of Review recommends that taxpayers review their property assessment information and gather any documentation they believe supports an appeal before filing. The board provides educational resources and information about the appeal process through its website.
Additional information about the 2026 property tax appeal schedule, filing procedures and available resources is available at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com. Taxpayers can also contact the Cook County Board of Review at 312-603-5542.
Cook County Property Owners in Four Townships Can Begin 2026 Tax Assessment Appeals
