Milwaukeeans, have your annual property assessments skyrocketed this year?
Most likely, yes.
For many residents, residential and condominium property assessments for 2026 have seen a 6.43% increase from the median value of $192,700 reported in 2025. Last year saw an almost $30,000 jump from the 2024 median value of homes across the city.
The increase was based on a city assessor’s office review of the more than 5,000 residential sales across roughly 140 of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. Overall there was a citywide increase of 6%.
The assessment helps the city determine how much homeowners must pay in property taxes, which also takes into account the city budget as well as taxing units such as Milwaukee Public Schools.
But, if homeowners are unhappy, they have the opportunity to appeal the city’s assessment.
Here’s what to know about the appeals process step-by-step:
Contact the Assessor’s Office by May 18
During the city’s Open Book period – or when the Assessor’s Office permits the assessment roll to be examined – residents can discuss their property value with the assessor and provide reason for changing the figure. This year, it’ll happen until May 18, 2026.
If a resident feels that the office’s assessment data is inaccurate, they can reach out to to the Assessor’s Office through their website, or contacting them at assessor@milwaukee.gov or by calling (414) 286-6565.
Submit an objection
Residents can submit a form online by May 18 through the Milwaukee Real Property Appeals web application or delivered either by mail or in-person to City of Milwaukee Assessor’s Office in City Hall at 200 E. Wells St., Room 507, between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. business hours
The Assessor’s Office does not accept any objection forms via email. Any objection forms that are emailed will not be considered not be processed.
Prepare evidence for an appeal
Residential property owners are encouraged to share a copy of an appraisal and a copy of a market analysis from a local real estate agent that shows the market conditions as of Jan. 1, 2026. The Assessor’s Office also recommends sharing any interior or exterior photos of the property that either show deferred maintenance area or that show a certain feature that the city has listed on its Property Record Card that was not present at the start of the year.
The office also suggests that commercial property owners provide an appraisal and photos of photos of the interior or exterior of the property that show it’s not currently rentable or usable as of Jan. 1, 2026.
They can also show the property rent roll at the start of the year, as well as income and expense statement that includes all income and expense data on the property for the 2025 to the start of 2026. If an income and expense statement is not submitted a commercial property owner may not be allowed to testify before the Board of Review, according to state statute.
After an appeal is submitted
Appeals that are received prior to the filing deadline of May 18 will be reviewed by a property appraiser and their determination will be reviewed by the city’s Board of Assessors. The board will review all appeals and can make changes to correlate with the market value. They will send a written notice of their determination.
If a property owner does not agree with the board’s determination, they can ask for the Board of Review Clerk for a hearing by either email them at boardreview@milwaukee.gov or phone (414) 286-3742.
Information on the appeals process is also available in Spanish on the assessor’s office website.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Frustrated by skyrocketing property assessments? Here’s how to appeal for 2026
Reporting by Vanessa Swales, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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