Affordable Housing Programs

Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program

The Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program incentivizes the rehabilitation and new construction of multi-family residential properties to create and maintain affordable housing. This program establishes assessment reductions for multifamily rental developments subjected to certain rent, tenant income, and related restrictions. 

If you are the owner of an affordable housing project and seek assessment under this special assessment program, you must complete the form applications. To receive the special assessment on the 2023 tax bill for the 2022 assessment year, eligible applicants should submit parts 1 and 2 of the application no later than January 31 of the same assessment year.

Please note, the Rental Information/Tenant Household Income Report Form included in Part 2 of the Eligibility has a limit of 25 units. If your project has more than 25 units, please download the excel version (go to the file drop-down menu, click download, choose excel) and upload it as part of your attachments corresponding to the Required Documentation section in part 2 of the application. For an example of a completed Rental Information/Tenant Household Income Report Form, download here. 

 Read Frequently Asked Questions Before Applying
 

Class 9 Properties Webinar
This webinar is intended for property owners whose properties are located in Cook County and are/were in the county's Class 9 program. The discussion will focus on simplified procedures for utilizing the new Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program for property tax relief. Navigation of the application was discussed. Watch the video recording on our YouTube. Download the PowerPoint here. 
 

In-Service Affordable Properties Webinar
If your Cook County property currently offers affordable housing and you’ve made substantial improvements to the property since 2015, you may be eligible for the Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program. This webinar will help you navigate the application. Watch the video recording on our YouTube. Download the PowerPoint here. 

Prospective Affordable Housing Webinar
If your Cook County property offers affordable housing or you’re considering renting to eligible households at affordable rents, but you haven’t made substantial improvements to the property in the last seven years, then this webinar will help you understand the application process. Watch the video recording on our YouTube. Download the PowerPoint here. 

Low Affordability Communities Webinar
This portion of the Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program provides special reductions targeted at defined geographic areas within Cook County that are particularly lacking in affordable housing. If you want to offer affordable housing in these parts of the county, this webinar is for you. Watch the video recording on our YouTube. Download the PowerPoint here. 

Have you recently applied for the Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program? We appreciate your patience as applications are processed. Our staff must review your application and documents and verify eligibility. When this process is complete, you will receive a letter and/or email from our office that will indicate whether the application has been accepted ("Completed") or whether additional information is needed to approve your application. If your application is denied, you will receive notice of the deficiencies upon which the denial was based. You will then have 30 days from the date of the email notification to provide supplemental information showing compliance with the requirements of this program. Please note that you can re-access an application you partially or fully completed, via clicking the “resume signing” button in the validation code email you would have received when beginning your application.

If you have comments, questions, or concerns about your application, please send a detailed email to assessor.ahsap@cookcountyil.gov or call (312) 603-7821, and include the Project Name and 14 digit PIN(s) associated with your application. 

LIHTC Valuation Program 

Low-income housing projects that qualify for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code are now eligible for assessments that reflect their actual or projected net operating income. If you are the owner of a low-income housing project and seek to be assessed under this new assessment program, you must complete the form application, below, that corresponds to the size of your property.

The form will ask for your Illinois Housing Development Authority or City Housing Department identification number(s) and tax forms in addition to your contact information. An email address is required to track the status of your application.

Submit one form per street address.

The Assessor's Office staff will review application materials and verify eligibility. Staff will also notify applicants by email about the status of their application(s). 

LIHTC Certification         LIHTC Annual Submittal

Class-9 Properties

Find information on the Class-9 incentive program by visiting the Incentives and Special Properties page.