Longtime North Chicago senior citizens are now eligible to receive a real estate tax rebate from the city,  returning 25% of the portion of their payment earmarked for the municipality, making it easier for them to continue living in their homes.

North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said that as people retire and rely more on fixed incomes, it is important they have the opportunity to continue living in the community they have called home for years.

“This lifts our community up,” Rockingham said. “It’s a great program. So many of our seniors are on fixed incomes, and this is something we can do to help them stay here.”

The North Chicago City Council unanimously approved the Senior Citizen Long-Term Property Tax Rebate Program ordinance without debate on Tuesday at City Hall, giving a financial boost to homeowners 65 and over.

To qualify, the homeowner must be at least 65, have lived in the home for at least 20 years and already be registered for Lake County’s senior homestead exemption, according to the ordinance. It must be their primary residence.

Rockingham said the rebate also provides an incentive for people close to age 65 who have lived in their house for close to 20 years to remain in their home.

“If they’ve lived there 18 or 19 years, they can get it the next year or year after,” Rockingham said. “They know they have the opportunity.”

Greg Jackson, the mayor’s chief of staff, said the percentage can change from year to year. The City Council, which approved the 25% rebate for 2026, will decide the rebate annually. The yearly review prevents the rebate from impacting other municipal services.

Though there is no income cap keeping a high-income senior from receiving the rebate, the council has the option to impose such a limitation in the future if it is necessary to keep the city solvent, according to the ordinance.

With a median home value in North Chicago of $147,800, someone living in the average home pays $2,187 in property taxes, according to city documents. Based on the current numbers, the rebate to the individual with an average valued home would be $547.

Once a homeowner pays their property taxes to Lake County, Jackson said, they can apply for the rebate. They must provide proof of payment, evidence that they have lived in the home for 20 years, and that they are the owner. Once done, the city will send a check.

If the homeowner cannot easily bring a copy of the deed showing how long they have owned the house or a copy of a cancelled check, Jackson said the information can be verified by the appropriate Lake County official.

Of the 8,079 housing units in North Chicago, 3,976 are single-family homes, according to city documents. At this time, 633 of the owners of the single-family homes have filed for the senior homestead exemption and have been approved.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/north-chicago-seniors-tax-rebate/