562.570.7174
Rick.DeLaTorre@longbeach.gov
Community Information Officer
Development Services Department
The City of Long Beach Development Services Department will be starting the application process for its reinstated Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program (Mills Act), an economic incentive program for properties in the city’s designated historic districts, which was temporarily paused in 2020. Residents in those districts and owners of designated landmark properties are invited to participate in two important events to learn about how to qualify and apply for tax benefits while also preserving the City’s historic sites.
“Long Beach is dedicated to preserving its rich heritage and maintaining the unique buildings that reflect the character and diversity of our city,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The Mills Act helps to further protect historic structures, while also providing qualified property owners with substantiatax savings each year.”
Historic district property owners, as well as owners of individual properties outside of the districts that have been designated as historic landmarks, are encouraged to attend two public workshops to learn about Mills Act eligibility and requirements, as listed below. Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish and Khmer during the presentations.
- Pre-Application Workshop
- Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, 10 a.m. to noon
- Jordan High School (Auditorium), 6500 Atlantic Ave.
- Application Workshop
- Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, 10 a.m. to noon
- Long Beach Energy Resources Department (Auditorium), 2400 E. Spring St.
The Pre-Application Workshop will provide an overview of the Mills Act and eligibility requirements. The event will also include a review of the process for preparing an application and calculating individual property tax savings. The Application Workshop will provide more specific information geared toward those interested in proceeding with the application process.
All potential applicants or their representative must attend the Pre-Application Workshop. Mills Act applications are processed once a year during the application period. The deadline to submit an application and non-refundable processing fee is Friday, March 3, 2023.
Under Mills Act contracts, private owners receive tax benefits in exchange for proper maintenance and preservation of the historical and architectural character of the property for an initial 10-year term. The Mills Act is especially beneficial for recent buyers of historic sites, or owners who may have recently had a property transfer or tax re-assessment.
In January 2015, the Long Beach City Council approved revisions to the Mills Act to provide more opportunities for eligible historic property owners. The Mills Act is a State program that is administered and implemented by local governments and offers economic incentives to qualifying owners of historic or designated landmark sites upon agreement to rehabilitate, restore and protect their property.
There are currently 117 properties with Mills Act contracts in Long Beach, representing a mix of single-family homes, commercial properties, and mixed-use apartments and condominium buildings.
For questions about the Mills Act, contact Alejandro Plascencia, Planner, at 562.570.6437 or Alejandro.Plascencia@longbeach.gov. For additional information about historic preservation in Long Beach, visit the Development Services Department's website.
About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Development Services; Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Long Beach Development Services
Serving residents, businesses and the community at large, the award-winning Long Beach Development Services Department sets a standard for high-quality, innovative urban planning and livability efforts that create more progressive and sustainable communities within the diverse City of Long Beach, CA. Through a variety of development, code enforcement, housing and neighborhood services and building activities, the Department builds a better future for the city while also honoring its unique past. For more information, visit longbeach.gov/lbds. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.