How to Read a Property Index Number

The Cook County websites have a wealth of information on property taxes and all things related. Here’s a short exerpt from the Cook County Clerk’s site on what a Property Index Number is and how to find it. You can read the full article at http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/tsd/maps/pages/aboutpins.aspx.

How to Read a PIN

The PIN is a 14-digit number composed of a 10-digit base that is modified for condominiums and leaseholds by adding a four-digit unit suffix. The basic PIN structure is:

AA-SS-BBB-PPP-UUUU

  • AA is the AREA number (sequential township)
  • SS is the SUBAREA number (section)
  • BBB is the BLOCK number
  • PPP is the PARCEL number
  • UUUU is the UNIT number for condominiums and leaseholds (zeros in this portion of the PIN indicate non-condo and non-leasehold PINs)

This system uniquely identifies each tax parcel in Cook County and makes it possible for tax map users to quickly locate a parcel on a tax map

Example

PIN = AA-SS-BBB-PPP-UUUU
PIN = 12-26-328-009-0000

Step 1

Use the two-digit area number (12 in the sample) to identify your township on the Cook County map.

Step 2

Look within the township area identified in Step 1 to find your two-digit section number (26 in the sample).

Step 3

Look within the subsection identified in Step 2 and use the three-digit block number (328 in the sample) to find your block.

Step 4

Look within your block identified in Step 3 to find your three-digit parcel number (009 in the sample). If the property in question is a condo or leasehold, the next four-digit number will identify the specific unit in a condo or the leaseholder. If this section contains zeros (as in the sample) the property is not a condo or leasehold.

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