- Mills Act Examples of Work
- Mills Act FAQs - Long Guide
- Procedures for Landmark Nomination COA Application
- Historic District Design Guidelines
- Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
Community Development
The 2026 Application submittal period has closed. Next year's application period will open early January 2027.
The Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program 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.
The Community Development Department is pleased to announce that the Mills Act Program for historic properties is open for the 2026 application period.
Residents and property owners looking to complete projects and repairs, such as these, are ideal candidates for this program:
- Foundation repairs
- Removal of knob-and-tube electrical wiring
- Sewer system replacement
- Repainting
- Roof repairs
- Removal of non-period alterations
To learn more about the Program by viewing the videos below:
- Mills Act Overview Video – English
- Mills Act Overview Video – Spanish
- Mills Act Overview Video – Khmer
Helpful Resources
Mills Act Processing
Mills Act applications and a non-refundable processing fee of $1,026.75 must be submitted by 3 p.m., Friday, March 20, 2026, to be considered for the 2026 program.
Staff anticipate that these applications will be reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission by Summer 2026 and transmitted to the City Council for action before October 2026. Final property tax contracts will be sent to the County Recorder on/or before end of the year.
Staff anticipate that these applications will be reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission by Summer 2026 and transmitted to the City Council for action before October 2026. Final property tax contracts will be sent to the County Recorder on/or before end of the year.
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.
2026 Program Resources
Application Workshop #1
Jan. 24, 2026 (In-Person and Virtual)
Application Workshop #2
Feb. 21, 2026 (Virtual)
As of Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, the Mills Act Program Application Guide and application materials became available.
Contact
For more information or questions regarding the Mills Act, please e-mail MillsAct@longbeach.gov.
