Most city offices and the yard waste drop off site are closed Friday, July 4th for Independence Day. Refuse, recycle, and yard waste curbside services are delayed one day after the holiday.
If an organization owning real and/or personal property believes the organization is eligible for a property tax exemption under Michigan law, the organization must apply for the exemption no later than the second Monday in March in the year that the organization wishes to be considered for exemption. Applications submitted for prior years are not within the jurisdiction of the City Assessor.
You'll need to complete the paper form. Click the Paper Form or In Person tab of this page for instructions to download the form. Call or visit our office if you need filling it out. You can find our number and address in the Contact Us section of this page.
There are multiple types of organizations that may qualify for a property tax exemption under Michigan law. Please see the City’s exemption application for a list of the most common exemption statutes.
To qualify for this exemption, you'll have to own and occupy the property as of December 31st prior to the year you want to be exempt.
Your application has to be filed no later than the second Monday in March. Organizations may submit an application for exemption for the upcoming tax year as early as April 1, however, all applications must be reviewed based on the status of the property as of tax day, which is December 31. For this reason, organizations submitting applications in April through December for the upcoming tax year will be contacted by the City Assessor’s Office in December to schedule an inspection of the property. Organizations submitting applications in January, February or March will be contacted shortly after their application is received to schedule an inspection of the property.
You'll need to print and sign the application before turning in the original to the Assessor's office. Don't have a printer? You can pick up the form at our office, we're located at the address listed in the Contact Us section of this page.
Download in English(PDF, 95KB)
Mail your application and all required supporting documentation to the address listed in the Contact Us section of this page.
All applications undergo a legal review by the City Assessor’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office. The review process also requires that City staff be allowed by the applicant to conduct a physical inspection of the property. Decisions are issued in writing during January, February, and March of the tax year in which the exemption will apply. Unsuccessful applicants may appeal the decision of the City Assessor to the March Board of Review for the current year only. Unsuccessful applicants must appeal to the March Board of Review in order to preserve the right to appeal further to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
The City Assessor’s Office is required to review all exempt properties on an annual basis. As a result, organizations that are exempt from property taxes may periodically be requested to file an updated exemption application. Failure to file an updated exemption application when requested may jeopardize the continuation of the exemption.
You can find our number in the Contact Us section of this page. We’ll make sure you have a current version of the exemption application. The City does not provide legal advice, and applicants must consult with their own attorney with questions.