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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.

The 2025 Mills Act Cycle application period is closed. The applications submitted for the 2025 Mills Act cycle are currently being processed. The Cultural Heritage Commission recommended 13 properties forward to City Council on July 29, 2025. Formal action by City Council is anticipated by mid October. Final property tax contracts will be recorded with the County Recorder on/or before Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.

Past Helpful Resources

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:

  1. Within a Historic District
  2. A designated Historic Landmark
  3. 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

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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Long Beach, CA 90802

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