In Cook County, properties are classified based on their use. For example, apartment buildings over six units are classified as Class 3 properties. Class 5 properties are properties that are used for commercial or industrial purposes.

A property is used for commercial purposes if it is used primarily for buying and selling goods and services, or for otherwise providing goods and services. Commercial use includes real estate used for hotel, motel and apartment buildings of more than six units.

A property is used for industrial purposes if it is used primarily in manufacturing or in the extraction or processing of raw materials unserviceable in their natural state to create new physical products or materials. It is also used for industrial purposes or in the processing of materials for recycling, or in the transportation or storage of raw materials or finished physical goods in the wholesale distribution of such materials or goods for sale or leasing.

If a property has applied for and been granted incentive treatment, different assessment levels will apply. You can find out more about the incentives available on the Property Incentives link on this Web site.

The three main reasons for filing a commercial/industrial appeal are:

1. If your property sold within the last five years at a price lower than the market value on your assessment notice, please submit an appeal accompanied by evidence of sale price and sale date. Evidence may include the closing statement, purchase contract, real estate transfer declaration or recorded deed.
2. You have an appraisal of your property that establishes that our market value is too high. If your property has a market value of less than $500,000, a letter of value will suffice. In either case, include income and expense statements for the last 3 years.
3. You are seeking relief because your building suffers from vacancy. If relief is sought based on partial or full vacancy, submit a completed CCAO building affidavit for the year in question. In the case of partially occupied rental property, year to date income and expense statements and current rent rolls should accompany vacancy affidavits.

All required commercial/industrial appeal forms are available through the forms page on this Web site or by calling or visiting one of the Assessor’s Office locations or your local township assessor.