Notice of Annual Property Assessment Valuations 

The City of Janesville (CoJ) Assessor’s Office has started its annual process of collecting and verifying property information for the 2025 Assessment Roll. Wisconsin Statute 70.32 states assessments be completed “from actual view” of the property to be valued. To help us do that, our office sends letters to property owners requesting they call us to schedule an appointment for a property visit. 

Property Visit General FAQs:

• We visit 1000 - 2000 properties every year over a period of several months
• Letters are sent asking you to call and schedule an appointment
• Visits are done by certified Property Appraisers who arrive in white CoJ cars
• Usually takes about 10-20 minutes
• In time, if we haven't heard from you, a Property Appraiser will stop by in-person requesting to view your property
• In person visits ensure we have the best data available to accurately and uniformly value your property
• We are not establishing values during the visit, nor do we typically have value information with us

Reasons we may request to view your property:

• As a follow up to check the status of work you previously started but hadn't completed
• It's new construction
• Building permits were issued for activities that may impact property value (+ or -)
• The property sold or transferred ownership in 2024
• Follow-up from an Open Book meeting for the prior year's value
• You requested we do a property inspection

During our visit:

• We will introduce ourselves and show you our City of Janesville employee photo ID badge
• We ask you to allow us to briefly enter your property to verify our information is accurate
• We walk through all rooms, including the attic (if accessible), the basement and the garage
• We verify the number of bathrooms, additional plumbing fixtures and other features
• We walk around the exterior of the building(s) to verify the condition and presence of other site improvements
• We measure and confirm the quality and condition of structural improvements such as building additions and decks
• We do not note or comment on decorations or furnishings of a home or business

How you can assist during the visit:

• Turn on lights in dark rooms
• Let us know of any potential safety hazards
• Responding to any questions we have about the property
• Secure or control pets

If we aren't able to view the inside of your property:

The law requires that property be valued from actual view or the best information available. We keep records of physical characteristics for all property in the municipality. Even if we're unable to go through your property, the assessment will still be reviewed, based on what can be seen by public view, existing records and other available sources of information, including comparison to similar properties.

Improvements that may increase property value:

Wisconsin Law requires property be assessed based on fair market value. Generally, improvements that increase the market value of a property also increase your assessed value. Below are typical items that may increase property value:

• Adding rooms, garages, sheds, decks or in-ground pools
• Substantial kitchen or bath modernization
• Adding central air conditioning
• Extensive remodeling

Improvements that likely will not increase property value:

Although good maintenance helps retain your property's market value, in general, your assessment won't increase due to individual minor repairs and maintenance, such as:

• Repairing/replacing roofing, gutters and downspouts
• Repairing/replacing porches, steps, decks, driveways, landscaping or sidewalks
• Exterior painting and interior redecorating such as paint, wallpaper or re-carpeting

Annual Assessment Cycle Calendar

July - February: Complete property inspections and other data collection or processing tasks

February - April: Complete valuation process

April - May: Prepare preliminary assessment roll and mail Notices of Assessment Change

May - July: Open Book & Board of Review

2025 Revaluation

Pursuant to 2009 Wisconsin Act 68 (Effective 11-25-2009)
and
Pursuant to 2015 Wisconsin Act 23 (Effective 6-24-2015)

The City of Janesville anticipates conducting a city wide revaluation for the 2025 Assessment Roll, if that level of service is funded during preparation of the 2025 City Budget. If a revaluation is not funded, we will proceed with a Maintenance assessment. At this time, the type of assessment to be performed is unknown. As such, we will be periodically conducting exterior and interior inspections on properties throughout the City of Janesville until such time that we have completed our 2025 Assessment Roll (estimated to be completed by mid-year 2025). Please also notice that the Assessor has certain statutory authority to enter land as described in state law (Secs. 943.13 and 943.15, Wis. Stats.).

The ability to enter land is subject to several qualifications and limitations, some of which are described within the foregoing Statutes and also partly described below. Copies of the applicable statutes may be obtained at public depositories throughout the State of Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin State Legislature website or a copy may be obtained from the municipal clerk upon payment of applicable copying charges.

The assessor or assessor’s staff enters the land in order to make an assessment on behalf of the state or a political subdivision.

The assessor or assessor’s staff enters the land on a weekday during daylight hours, or at another time as agreed upon with the land owner.

The assessor or assessor’s staff spends no more than one hour on the land.

The assessor or assessor’s staff does not open doors, enter through open doors, or look into windows of structures on the land.

The assessor or assessor’s staff leaves in a prominent place on the principal building on the land, or on the land if there is no principal building, a notice informing the owner or occupant that the assessor or assessor’s staff entered the land and giving information on how to contact the assessor.

The assessor or assessor’s staff has not personally received a notice from the owner or occupant, either orally or in writing, not to enter or remain on the premises.

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