The County of Berks Board of Assessment Appeals has voted to resume in-person property assessment appeal hearings beginning in April 2026, ending the practice of conducting hearings by telephone that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to 2020, appeal hearings were routinely held in person. When the pandemic began, hearings were temporarily moved to telephone and virtual formats, including Microsoft Teams, to ensure public safety and maintain the continuity of services. With those concerns now behind us and the Assessment Office operating from its new facility at the Berks County South Campus in Mohnton, the Board has unanimously decided to return to the traditional in-person format.
The Board of Assessment Appeals serves as a quasi-judicial body that reviews property assessment appeals filed by Berks County property owners. Conducting hearings in person aligns the Board’s procedures more closely with those used by the Berks County Courts and helps ensure an effective and orderly hearing process.
Board members cited several reasons for returning to in-person hearings, including improved public access at the new Assessment Office location, the ability to more effectively manage hearings that involve multiple parties, and technology challenges that can arise during proceedings held via telephone. The new facility also provides more convenient parking and easier access for residents attending their hearings.
What Property Owners Should Know
Property owners who wish to file an appeal should continue to follow the established process:
- Appeal forms and instructions are available online at www.berkspa.gov/departments/assessment/forms.
- After filing an appeal, appellants will receive a postcard-sized mailing from the Assessment Office with the date, time, and location of their scheduled hearing.
- On the scheduled date, appellants should report to the Berks County Assessment Office, 400 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton, PA 19540, and follow the posted signage to the hearing location.
- Parking is available in the lot at the canopy entrance, not the Magisterial District Judge entrance.
Residents with questions about the change or the appeal process may contact the Berks County Assessment Office at 610-478-6262 or by email at assessment@berkspa.gov.
The Board of Assessment Appeals encourages property owners who plan to file an appeal to review the process carefully and attend their hearings prepared with any documentation or information they wish the Board to consider.