Freedom of Information Act

Members of the public may make requests for inspection or for copies of public records for the Cook County Board of Review under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.  This Act provides that some records are exempt from inspection and copying.

Methods to Obtain Records

All FOIA requests submitted to the Board of Review must include the following information:

1. The name, mailing address and contact information of the requestor;
2. A description of the records that are being requested;
3. Whether the request is for commercial purposes.

To make a request for inspection or copies, you may print the FOIA request form here and e-mail, mail, fax, or deliver it to:

FOIA Board of Review

Allen Manuel, FOIA Officer
118 N. Clark St. Rm 601
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Email: CCBOR.FOIA@cookcountyil.gov
Fax: 312-603-5586

The Cook County Board of Review has access to certain documents. You can also search the Board of Review’s online Decision Database for information on your appeal.

Fees and Costs

There is no fee for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal sized copies.  The Cook County Board of Review (the “Board") requires a fee of 15 cents per page for each page of a request that is more than 50 pages.  The requester must pay the copying fee before the Board will release the requested copies.  For large requests over 200 pages, the Board reserves the right to use an outside document/copy service and require the requester pay all fees to the document/copying service.  Actual reproduction costs for color documents and oversized (non-standard) documents are the responsibility of the requester and must be paid before the Board will release the requested copies.

Electronic Format

If a person requests a copy of a record maintained in an electronic format, the Board will furnish the record in the electronic format specified by the requestor, if possible. If it is not possible to furnish the record in the specified electronic format, the requester has the option of receiving the documents in the electronic format in which it is maintained or in paper format.  Where documents are requested in electronic format, the requester must reimburse the Board for the actual cost of the recording medium (i.e. CD, DVD, etc).  In all cases, the requestor must pay all fees due before the Board will release the documents.

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