Applications Available for Property Tax Exemptions in Urban Revitalization Areas

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The City of Dubuque is currently accepting applications from property owners who may qualify for tax cuts based on improvements made to qualified properties in Dubuque’s urban revitalization areas as a part of the Dubuque Urban Revitalization Program.
 
The Dubuque Urban Revitalization Program, based on Chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa, focuses on the revitalization of properties in Dubuque’s older neighborhoods and offers a property tax exemption for new improvements made to qualified residential properties and limited commercial properties. Qualified residential properties include single-family homes, duplexes, and apartment buildings located within urban revitalization areas designated by the City Council. A building containing office or retail space may be eligible if the primary building use is 75 percent residential. A map of Dubuque’s urban revitalization areas can be found at www.cityofdubuque.org/urbanrevitalization. 

New improvements must have been completed in 2020 and increase the assessed value of the building by at least 10 percent for residential and 15 percent for multi-residential or commercial properties. The Dubuque City Assessor makes a distinction between improvements that add to property value and home maintenance. For information on types of taxable improvements, contact the Dubuque City Assessor’s office at 563.589.4416.

Improvements to qualified properties may receive a total or partial exemption from property taxes for a specified number of years. These tax breaks are intended to encourage private investment by offsetting the property tax increases that usually accompany property improvements and increased property values. These investments and property improvements provide a long-term increase or stabilization in the area’s tax base, enhances the visibility of revitalization areas, and supports important City objectives such as historic preservation, economic development, and affordable housing development.

Applications for the Dubuque Urban Revitalization Program are available at www.cityofdubuque.org/urbanrevitalization. Completed applications must be returned to the City of Dubuque Housing and Community Development Department, 350 W. Sixth St., Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001 by 5 p.m. by Feb. 1, 2021.

For more information about the Dubuque Urban Revitalization Program or the tax exemption application, contact the City of Dubuque Housing and Community Development Department at 563.589.4230 or visit www.cityofdubuque.org/urbanrevitalization.  

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