Find Knox County Property Records
Knox County property records are kept by the Supervisor of Assessments in Galesburg, the county seat. This office maintains assessed values, ownership data, and tax information for every parcel in the county. You can search Knox County property records online through the DevNet portal or visit the assessment office on South Prairie Street in person. Township assessors handle the direct work of valuing parcels, and the Supervisor of Assessments reviews those values for fairness. Whether you need to check a home value, look up a tax bill, or find out who owns a piece of land, this page covers how to find property records in Knox County.
Knox County Property Records Quick Facts
Knox County Assessment Office
The Knox County Supervisor of Assessments is the main office for property records in the county. Sonia M. Hochstetler serves as the assessment officer. The office provides technical guidance to township assessors, processes exemption applications, and keeps ownership records current for all parcels in Knox County. If you have a question about your assessed value or need a copy of your property record, this office in Galesburg is where to start.
Township assessors do the hands-on work of valuing property across Knox County. Galesburg Township covers the city itself, and rural townships handle the outlying areas. Each assessor visits properties, reviews building permits, and updates records when things change. The Supervisor of Assessments then reviews those values to keep them uniform. Under 35 ILCS 200/, all real property in Illinois must be assessed at 33 1/3 percent of fair market value. That rule applies to every parcel in Knox County. Farmland is assessed differently. It uses a soil productivity method instead of market sales, which is important in Knox County where agriculture makes up a large share of the land use. The assessment office balances residential, commercial, and farm values to make sure everyone in the county pays their fair share.
| Office |
Supervisor of Assessments 121 S. Prairie Street Galesburg, IL 61401 |
|---|---|
| Officer | Sonia M. Hochstetler |
| Phone | (309) 345-3845 |
| Fax | (309) 343-0063 |
| sonia.hochstetler@knoxcountyil.gov | |
| Website | knoxcountyil.gov |
Search Knox County Property Records Online
The quickest way to look up property records in Knox County is through the Knox County property search portal. This site lets you search by address, owner name, or Property Index Number. Results show assessed value, tax data, and ownership details for each parcel. No account is needed and basic lookups are free. The system covers every parcel in Knox County.
The Knox County property search portal at DevNet is the main online tool for pulling up parcel information in the county.
Use the search fields on this page to look up parcels by name, address, or PIN in Knox County.
If you do not have the PIN for a parcel, use the address search instead. Type in the street number and name, and the system pulls up matching records in Knox County. The PIN is a number tied to the land itself. It does not change when the property sells. Every tax bill and assessment notice in the county shows this number. Keeping your PIN on hand speeds up any search you do for Knox County property records. You can also find it on your most recent tax bill or by calling the assessment office at (309) 345-3845.
The statewide Illinois Property Tax Portal also connects to Knox County property records. Pick Knox from the county list and it takes you to the local search tool. This is a handy starting point if you are not sure which county website to use.
Note: Some older Knox County property records may not show up in the online system, so check with the assessment office for records that predate the digital portal.
Knox County Property Tax Exemptions
Knox County residents can apply for exemptions that lower the tax on their home. The Supervisor of Assessments processes all exemption applications for the county. You file them at the office on South Prairie Street in Galesburg. Each one has its own rules and deadlines.
The General Homestead Exemption is the most common. It cuts $6,000 from your assessed value if you own and live in your home. No age limit applies. The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption takes off an extra $5,000 for homeowners 65 and up. You need proof of age and ownership. The Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze locks your assessed value so it does not go up each year, but income limits apply. Under 35 ILCS 200/, the Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption gives a $2,000 reduction. The Disabled Veterans Homestead Exemption varies based on disability rating, and the Returning Veterans Homestead Exemption provides a one-time $5,000 cut. The Home Improvement Exemption defers increases from upgrades for up to four years, which can save money for homeowners in Knox County who are making updates to their property.
- General Homestead Exemption: $6,000 reduction
- Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption: $5,000 reduction
- Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze: locks assessed value
- Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption: $2,000 reduction
- Home Improvement Exemption: defers increases up to 4 years
Knox County Property Tax and Illinois Law
The Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/) is the law that controls how property gets assessed and taxed in Knox County and across the state. It sets the 33 1/3 percent assessment level, defines how appeals work, and spells out the role of township assessors and county officers. Property taxes in Knox County are paid in arrears, meaning the bill you pay this year covers the prior year's assessment.
The Illinois Property Tax Code page at the Illinois General Assembly website is the legal foundation for all property records in Knox County.
The full text of 35 ILCS 200/ is available there for anyone who wants to read the statute that governs property records in Knox County.
The lien date for all property is January 1 each year. Knox County follows the quadrennial assessment cycle, so a full reassessment happens every four years with yearly adjustments in between. Tax bills go out the following year. If you think your assessment is too high, file an appeal with the Knox County Board of Review within about 30 days of the notice. Appeals are free and you do not need a lawyer.
Getting Knox County Property Records
You can get Knox County property records in person at the assessment office on South Prairie Street in Galesburg. Walk in during business hours and staff can look up any parcel, print records, and answer questions about your assessment. Bring the property address or PIN with you. No appointment is needed for basic lookups.
Phone and email also work. Call (309) 345-3845 or send a message to sonia.hochstetler@knoxcountyil.gov. For tax bill questions, the Knox County Treasurer handles payments and balances. The Knox County Recorder of Deeds is a separate office that tracks deed transfers, mortgages, and liens. If you need to find out who sold a property or what loans are on record, the recorder is the right office to visit. County offices in Galesburg are close together, making it easy to handle different types of Knox County property records in one stop.
Note: The Knox County Recorder may charge a small fee for certified copies of deeds and other recorded documents.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Knox County. If you own property near a county line, check your PIN to make sure you search in the right county. Each county has its own assessment office and online tools.