Rochester Property Tax Records
Rochester property tax records are managed by the city's Bureau of Assessment and the Monroe County Real Property Tax Services office. The city runs a GIS-based property information app that gets updated every night with new assessment and billing data. You can search by address, owner name, or Section-Block-Lot number. Monroe County also keeps records for Rochester parcels, including sales history and tax payment details. This page covers the offices, tools, and steps you need to look up any Rochester property tax record.
Rochester Overview
Rochester Bureau of Assessment
The City of Rochester Bureau of Assessment sits within the Finance Department. This office provides the public with data on property ownership, assessment values, and tax exemption programs. Staff process exemption applications and track filing deadlines. They also compile sales information and handle questions about assessed values.
You can call the Bureau of Assessment at (585) 428-7221 for direct help. For general city questions, dial 311 or (585) 428-5990 if you are calling from outside Rochester. The Bureau of Assessment page lists available exemptions, deadlines, and links to the city's online search tools.
The bureau keeps records for every parcel inside the city limits. Towns that border Rochester, like Brighton, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, and Penfield, use the Monroe County Real Property Portal instead. So if your property sits just outside city lines, the county system is where you need to look.
| Office | City of Rochester Bureau of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Phone | (585) 428-7221 |
| General Line | 311 or (585) 428-5990 |
| Data Updates | Nightly |
Search Rochester Property Tax Records Online
The Rochester Property Information Application is the main search tool. It runs on a GIS map. You can zoom in, click on a parcel, and see assessment details, tax bills, and water billing info all in one place. The app also lets you switch between street map and satellite views, turn on zoning and preservation district layers, and measure distances.
Search options include address, owner name, and SBL number. Assessment and billing data gets updated nightly, so what you see is almost always current. You can create a PDF of any map view or generate a detailed property report right from the app. If an address does not come up, try searching by owner name or just click the parcel on the map.
For tax billing details, the Property Tax Billing page shows tax rate info and lets you pull up copies of city tax bills. A 10-year tax history is also available through the Property Data, Assessment, Sales and Taxes page. This tool shows owner names, exempted amounts, and city/school taxes for any parcel.
Monroe County Property Tax Records
Monroe County Real Property Tax Services handles countywide records from 304 County Office Building, 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. The main phone line is (585) 753-1125. For tax-specific questions, call the Treasury Division at (585) 753-1200. The office is led by Director Amy E. Grande.
The county's Real Property Portal gives residents free access to individual property records. You can see tax info, historical sales data, and make online tax payments through this system. The office maintains assessment rolls, updates tax maps, processes title changes, and reviews subdivision maps. They also calculate tax rates for towns and special districts, and prepare tax warrants.
If you need to pay taxes online, the Monroe County portal is where you go. A 3% credit card charge applies for online payments. You can also pay in person at Town Hall for neighboring towns. Phone payments are not accepted for Greece and some other Monroe County towns, but the county portal works for Rochester parcels.
Note: Paper copies from the county cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies run $5.00 plus $0.65 for each extra page.
Rochester Tax Assessment Grievance Process
If your Rochester property assessment seems too high, you have the right to challenge it. The first step is an informal review. Contact the Bureau of Assessment to talk through your concerns. Many disputes get resolved at this stage without any formal paperwork.
If that does not work, you file a formal grievance with the Board of Assessment Review using Form RP-524. The tentative assessment roll goes public on May 1, and Grievance Day falls on the fourth Tuesday in May. You need comparable sales data or a recent appraisal to back up your claim. The board hears your case and makes a ruling. Under RPTL Article 7, you can take the dispute to court if you disagree with their decision.
Rochester Property Tax Records and State Resources
The NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services oversees all local assessors in the state. The Municipal Data Portal has Rochester's equalization rate, roll dates, and assessor contact info. SalesWeb tracks property sales across New York with weekly updates. All of these tools are free to use.
RPTL Section 300 says all real property is taxable unless exempt. Section 502 requires the assessor to notify you of changes. The STAR program cuts school taxes for qualifying homeowners, and Enhanced STAR gives a larger break to seniors 65 and older who meet the income cap. Veterans, disabled persons, and nonprofits may qualify for other breaks under state law.
Monroe County Property Tax Records
Rochester is part of Monroe County. Visit the county page for more on countywide records and resources:
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have property tax record pages you can check: