The City of Dubuque Urban Revitalization Program, based on Chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa, encourages the revitalization of buildings in the community’s older neighborhoods by offering a property tax exemption for new improvements made to qualified residential and commercially assessed properties.
In 2018, the City Council combined and expanded a number of smaller Urban Revitalization areas into the Dubuque Urban Revitalization Area. The Dubuque Urban Revitalization Area includes 7,266 properties and encompasses 1,801 acres. As a result of the expansion, more Dubuque property owners are eligible for a property tax exemption on the assessed valuations from improvements to their property.
How to Qualify for Urban Revitalization Property Tax Exemptions
- The property must be located in the Urban Revitalization area.
- The building’s assessed valuation must increase by at least 10% for residential or by 15% for commercial property to be eligible for tax exemptions. Note, this required increase in assessed valuation is based on the existing building valuation, not the total property valuation which includes the land value. The increase in assessed valuation is determined by the Dubuque County City Assessor at the Courthouse.
How to Apply
The application form for improvements in 2025 is due by February 2, 2026.
- Submit a completed and signed application form by February 2 for improvements made during the previous calendar year. Remember to include the building permit number.
- After an application form is submitted, a City housing or building inspector may contact the applicant to review the improvements or the application.
- After review by City staff, conforming applications are presented to the City Council which forwards them to the Dubuque County City Assessor for final review and certification of the new assessed valuation. Conforming applications that meet the required percentage increase in assessed valuation are then forwarded from the City Assessor to the County Auditor for the appropriate tax exemption to be applied to the property’s tax assessment. The City Assessor will notify the applicant of the determination of assessed valuation of the improvements and if property tax exemption is approved. This decision may be appealed to the board of review.
Property Tax Exemption Benefits
The following table shows the percentage increase in assessed valuation needed to qualify for Urban Revitalization, and the number of years of property tax exemption on the increased valuation, broken down by property classification.
| Assessed Property Class | Percent Increase in Assessed Value | Years of Tax Exemption
on increased Valuation |
| Residential | 10% | 10 years on 100% of increased valuation |
| Commercial | 15% | 3 years on 100% of increased valuation |