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MILLS ACT PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM HAS RELAUNCHED FOR 2023

The City of Long Beach Development Services Department is pleased to announce that the Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program (Mills Act) application process reopened for the first time since 2020. The 2023 application guide and forms became available Friday, December 30, 2022.

Development Services hosted two mandatory public workshops. Potential applicants needed to attend the January pre-application workshop and the February application workshop for their application to be considered.

Mills Act applications and a non-refundable processing fee needed be submitted by the 4 p.m., March 3, 2023, deadline to be considered for the 2023 program. Staff anticipates that these applications will be reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, and transmitted to the City Council for action on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Final property tax contracts will be sent to the County Recorder on or before Friday, September 29, 2023.

The deadline to submit the 2023 application package was 4 p.m., Friday, March 3, 2023.

The City is no longer accepting new applications.

Correction: 
The Landmark and Mills Act combination fee was shown incorrectly on page 12 of the Mills Act Application Guide. The correct fee for the Combination Landmark and Mills Act application is $3,461.40. This is only applicable for properties that are applying for both Landmark and Mills Act applications. 
https://www.longbeach.gov/link/1ef03b9f15ed41b8a2a817b7c265b26b.aspx



BACKGROUND

The City of Long Beach Mills Act Program was established in 1993, under the authority of State legislation, known as the “Mills Act,” which was enacted in 1972. The Program is a financial incentive for property owners undertaking restoration, rehabilitation or maintenance of a designated historic property. 

The City of Long Beach Mills Act Program was established in 1993, under the authority of State legislation, known as the “Mills Act”. The Program 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. The incentive is achieved through property tax relief to owners of historic properties in exchange for the rehabilitation and restoration of the historic property pursuant to the terms of a Mills Act contract with the City.  Long Beach’s Mills Act program launched in 1993.  After nearly a 10-year hiatus, the City Council revised and reinstated the program in 2015.  The program was temporarily put on hold in 2020 due to staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although tax savings cannot be guaranteed through entering into a Mills Act contract, estimates can be made through the application process to determine likely potential property tax savings.  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. The program is generally less beneficial for property owners who have owned their property for more than 10 years.



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

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