How to challenge your property assessment in Oneida and Madison County (Grievance Day)

Is your assessment too high?

Divide the assessment by the state’s residential assessment ratio (RAR) for your town to get the market value it implies. If that is well above what the home would sell for, the assessment may be too high. Equally, a fair assessment is about the market value times the RAR.

LumeInsight does this check for any home at your price, using the state’s published RAR for the town.

Grievance Day and the deadline

Grievance Day is the day the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) meets to hear complaints, and the deadline to file form RP-524. In most communities it is the fourth Tuesday in May; confirm the date with your assessor. A form you mail must be received by Grievance Day.

Cities set their own dates. The City of Utica held Grievance Day on May 26, 2026. The City of Rome’s Grievance Day is always the first Tuesday in August, with grievances filed between July 15 and Grievance Day.

Before Grievance Day you and the assessor can also agree to a lower assessment (a stipulation) without a hearing.

If the board says no

Owners of owner-occupied one-, two- or three-family homes can then ask for small claims assessment review (SCAR) through the courts.

Questions

When is Grievance Day in Oneida County?

In most towns, the fourth Tuesday in May. The City of Utica held it on May 26, 2026, and the City of Rome’s is always the first Tuesday in August. Confirm with your assessor.

What form do I use to challenge my assessment in New York?

Form RP-524, filed with the assessor or the Board of Assessment Review by Grievance Day.

How do I know if my assessment is fair?

A fair assessment is about the home’s market value times the state’s residential assessment ratio for the town. If the assessment is well above that, you may have grounds to grieve.