For more information or questions regarding the Mills Act, please e-mail MillsAct@longbeach.gov.
Community Development
The Community Development Department is pleased to announce that the Mills Act Program for historic properties is open for the 2025 application period.
The Mills Act provides a financial incentive, in the form of property tax relief, in exchange for property owners' commitment to undertaking restoration, rehabilitation or maintenance of a designated historic property pursuant to the terms of a Mills Act contract with the City.
Learn more about the Program by viewing the videos below!
- Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program for 2025 – English
- Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program for 2025 – Spanish
- Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program for 2025 - Khmer
If you are interested in applying for a Mills Act Contract, the Community Development Department will host two mandatory public workshops.
As of Jan. 3, 2025, the Mills Act Program Application Guide and application materials are now available under Helpful Resources.
Pre-Application Workshop (In-Person and Virtual)
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, 10 a.m. – noon
Jenny Oropeza Community Center
401 Golden Ave.
A recording of the Mills Act Pre-Application Workshop is available for your convenience.
Eligibility for the program requires participation in two workshops. If you did not attend the meeting on Jan. 22, 2025, please watch the recording and fill out the attendance verification so that we may record your participation.
La grabación del Taller de Pre-Solicitud del Mills Act está disponible para su conveniencia
Para ser elegible para el programa se requiere la participación en los dos talleres. Si no asistió al taller el 22 de enero de 2025, por favor vea la grabación y complete la verificación de asistencia para que podamos registrar su participación.
Application Workshop (Virtual only)
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – noon
Both workshops are required as part of your application process. A link will be provided to registered attendees prior to the workshop.
Mills Act applications and a non-refundable processing fee of $545.00 must be submitted by 3 p.m., Friday, March 14, 2025, to be considered for the 2025 program.
Staff anticipates that these applications will be reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission by July 1, 2025, and transmitted to the City Council for action before Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. Final property tax contracts will be sent to the County Recorder on/or before Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
Helpful Resources
The 2025 Application Guide and materials have been updated to create a more streamlined approach to the permit application process. Use the Application Guide to determine the correct forms that must be submitted with your application, and use the Application Checklist as a cover page when submitting your electronic application.
- 2025 Mills Act Application Guide
- 2025 Mills Act Application Checklist
- 2025 Mills Act Application Digital Signature
- 2025 Mills Act Application Wet Signature
- 2025 Mills Act Detailed Workplan and Schedule
- 2025 Mills Act Priority Consideration Criteria Worksheet
- 2025 Mills Act Schedule and Valuation
- 2025 Mills Act Examples of Workplan Improvements
- 2025 Mills Act Matrix of Condominium Owners
- Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program for 2024 – English
- Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program for 2024 – Spanish
- Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program for 2024 – Khmer
- 2024 Mills Act Pre-Application Workshop Presentation – February 10, 2024
- 2024 Mills Act Pre-Application Workshop Presentation – January 20, 2024
- 2024 Mills Act Guide and Applications
- 2024 Mills Act 1-Page Overview – English
- 2024 Mills Act 1-Page Overview – Spanish
- 2024 Mills Act 1-Page Overview – Khmer
- Mills Act FAQ Long Guide
- Mills Act FAQ Short Guide – English
- Mills Act FAQ Short Guide – Spanish
- Mills Act FAQ Short Guide – Khmer
- Mills Act Examples of Work Plan Improvements
- Mills Act Schedule of Work
- Long Beach Historic District Design Guidelines
- Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation
Frequently Asked Questions
For the FAQ Short Guide and Full Guide, please see the Helpful Resources section.
The Mills Act provides a financial incentive, in the form of property tax relief, in exchange for property owners undertaking restoration, rehabilitation or maintenance of a designated historic property pursuant to the terms of a Mills Act contract with the City.
The Mills Act is especially beneficial for recent buyers of historic sites or owners who may have recently had a property transfer or tax reassessment and are planning on undertaking restoration, rehabilitation or maintenance of that property.
The program is generally less beneficial for property owners who have owned their property for more than 10 years.
In exchange for the property tax relief realized under Mills Act contracts, property owners must agree to maintain and preserve their properties for at least 10 years in accordance with specific historic preservation standards and conditions and terms of the mills act contract.
The property must be in Long Beach. Check the property location by selecting the City of Long Beach Location Map. Eligibility for the Mills Act requires one of the following:
- Within a Historic District
- A designated Historic Landmark
- Or Eligible to become a designated Historic Landmark
To be considered for designation for a Historic Landmark, please review the Landmark Nomination Certificate of Appropriateness application and Procedures for the Nomination of New Historic Landmark Properties
Possible reduction in property taxes —average between 30% to 50% for new property owners. Property owners who have recently purchased the property are most likely to see higher tax reduction. Owners who have owned their historic property for more than 10 years are less likely to see any tax reduction.
Mills Act contracts are for a minimum 10-year-term. A contract automatically renews each year on its anniversary date and a new 10-year agreement becomes effective, creating a "rolling" contract term that is always equal to the initial contract term. Mills Act contracts are transferred to the new owners if a property is sold.
If you are currently in a Mills Act Contract and you are submitting your annual Mills Act Schedule of Work, please send via email to MillsAct@longbeach.gov.
Contact
