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The Community Development Department is pleased to announce that the Mills Act Program for historic properties will reopen for the 2024 application period. The 2024 application guide and forms will become available on Friday, December 29, 2023.

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 video below!

If you are interested in applying for a Mills Act Contract, the Community Development Department will be hosting two mandatory public workshops:

Pre-Application Workshop (In Person)
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, 10 a.m. - noon 
Ernest McBride Park & Cal Rec Community Center
1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
RSVP online to attend.

Application Workshop (Virtual)
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, 10 a.m. - noon
Register online to receive meeting details.

Mills Act applications and a non-refundable processing fee of $361.80 must be submitted by 3 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, to be considered for the 2024 program.

Staff anticipates that these applications will be reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission on/or before Tuesday, June 25, 2024, and transmitted to the City Council for action on/or before Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Final property tax contracts will be sent to the County Recorder on/or before Friday, December 31, 2024.

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. The building must either be in a designated historic district, be a designated historic landmark building, or be eligible for historic landmark designation andhave the property bedesignated as a historic landmark.You can verify if your property is historic using the following links:
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

For more information or questions regarding the Mills Act, please e-mail MillsAct@longbeach.gov.

Historic Preservation Contact

(562) 570-6194

millsact@longbeach.gov

411 W. Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802

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411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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