Find Property Records in Shelby County

Shelby County property records hold assessed values, tax data, and ownership details for every parcel in this central Illinois county. The Supervisor of Assessments office in Shelbyville keeps these records current and makes them available to the public both online and in person. You can search Shelby County property records through the county's free map-based portal or stop by the courthouse on Main Street. Township assessors set property values across the county each year, and the Supervisor of Assessments checks those figures to make sure they stay fair. This page covers how to find, read, and use Shelby County property records.

Shelby County Assessment Office

The Supervisor of Assessments office handles all property records for Shelby County. It sits on the second floor of the courthouse at 301 E. Main Street in Shelbyville. You can reach the office by phone at 217-774-5579 or send a fax to 217-774-5291. For email, use ccao87@shelbycounty-il.gov. Staff here manage assessed values, process exemption forms, and give technical support to township assessors who do the hands-on work of setting values on homes, farms, and commercial buildings across Shelby County.

Under 35 ILCS 200/, the Supervisor of Assessments must review all township values to keep Shelby County property records accurate and uniform. This means checking that one township does not come in way above or below another for the same type of property. The office also runs the Board of Review, which is where you file a complaint if you believe your assessed value is too high. Residents who disagree with their assessment can bring sales data from comparable homes and present their case. The board has the power to adjust values based on the evidence it receives. If a property recently sold, the new sale price might affect the next assessment cycle in Shelby County.

The Shelby County assessment office website lists contact details, office hours, and forms you may need when working with your property records.

This page gives an overview of the Shelby County Supervisor of Assessments office and its role in maintaining local property records.

Search Shelby County Property Records Online

Shelby County provides a free online property search through a map-based tool hosted by BHA Maps. The portal lets you look up parcels by clicking on the map or searching by address. You can find assessed values, lot dimensions, and ownership data for any parcel in the county. No account is needed. The tool loads fast and works well on both desktop and mobile browsers. This is the quickest way to check Shelby County property records without making a trip to Shelbyville.

The assessed value you see in the search results reflects 33 1/3 percent of the fair market value, which is the standard rate across most of Illinois under 35 ILCS 200/. So if a parcel shows an assessed value of $30,000, the county considers the fair market value to be about $90,000. Farmland in Shelby County uses a different formula based on soil productivity, which typically results in lower assessed values for agricultural parcels. The portal shows property class codes that tell you whether a parcel is residential, commercial, industrial, or farm. Each class can have slightly different rules for how the value gets set in Shelby County property records.

Below is the Shelby County property search portal where you can look up parcels across the county using the interactive map.

Use this tool to find parcel data, assessed values, and ownership information for any property in Shelby County.

Note: Recent sales may take a few weeks to show up in the Shelby County online system after the deed is recorded.

Shelby County Property Tax Records

Property taxes in Shelby County are paid in arrears. The bill you pay this year covers the prior year's assessment. The lien date is January 1 each year under 35 ILCS 200/, and that is when the county locks in who owns the parcel and what it is worth. Tax bills go out the following year, and most Shelby County property owners pay in two installments. The tax rate varies by location within the county since each parcel falls into a tax code area that combines rates from the county, township, school district, fire district, and other local bodies.

A home inside the city of Shelbyville may have a different total rate than a farm out in a rural township. The county clerk calculates the final rate for each tax code area based on the levies set by local governments. The state equalization factor from the Illinois Department of Revenue also plays a role. This multiplier adjusts assessed values across the county to keep them at the correct level statewide. Your Shelby County property record shows the tax code area, and you can check with the county treasurer for the exact rate that applies to your parcel.

Shelby County Property Exemptions

Several exemptions can lower the tax bill on your home in Shelby County. You file for these through the Supervisor of Assessments office at the courthouse. Each type has its own rules.

The General Homestead Exemption is the most common one in Shelby County property records. It takes $6,000 off your assessed value if you own and live in the home. No age limit applies. Homeowners 65 and older can also get the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption for an extra $5,000 off. The Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze locks your assessed value so it does not rise each year, though income limits apply. The Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption gives a $2,000 cut. Veterans with a service-connected disability may qualify for the Disabled Veterans Homestead Exemption, where the amount depends on the VA disability rating. Under 35 ILCS 200/, these exemptions are set by state law and applied at the county level. Once approved, they show up on your Shelby County property record.

• General Homestead Exemption: $6,000 reduction
• Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption: $5,000 for age 65+
• Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze: locks value in place
• Disabled Persons: $2,000 reduction
• Disabled Veterans: varies by rating

Note: Most Shelby County exemptions need to be filed each year unless the office sends you an automatic renewal notice.

How Shelby County Assessments Work

Township assessors do the field work in Shelby County. They visit properties, check building permits, and set values based on what the land and structures are worth. The assessment date is January 1 each year. All real property in the county gets assessed at 33 1/3 percent of fair market value under Illinois law. Shelby County follows a four-year cycle for full reassessments. Yearly adjustments happen in between to keep values current.

After township assessors finish, the Supervisor of Assessments reviews the numbers. If one township seems out of step with the rest, the office can apply an equalization factor to bring values in line. The Illinois Department of Revenue also sets a state equalization factor each year. Assessment notices go out in late summer or early fall. You have about 30 days from the notice date to file a complaint with the Board of Review. Bring comparable sales data or a recent appraisal to back up your case. The board hears complaints and has the authority to raise or lower values in Shelby County property records.

Get Shelby County Records in Person

You can visit the Supervisor of Assessments office at 301 E. Main Street, 2nd Floor Room 1, in Shelbyville. Bring the address or PIN of the property you want to look up. Staff can search the system, pull up the record, and print what you need. This is a good option if you have questions that are hard to sort out online or if you want to talk through your assessment in detail.

For basic lookups, the online search at shelby-il.bhamaps.com is faster. But for exemption forms, appeal help, or anything that needs a signature, going to the office is the better choice. Shelby County property records are public under Illinois law. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to own the parcel or live in the county to request a record. Phone help is on hand at 217-774-5579 during business hours. You can also email ccao87@shelbycounty-il.gov with questions about your assessed value or the status of an exemption application.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Shelby County. Property records are held by the county where the parcel sits, so make sure you search in the right one. If a property is close to a county line, check the address against the border to be sure.