Santa Monica, CA Historic Preservation: Mills Act Contracts (2026)
Key Facts
- State authority
- California Government Code § 50280 et seq. (Mills Act)
- Approval body
- City Council (by resolution)
- Eligible properties
- Landmarks, Structures of Merit, contributing buildings in Historic Districts (privately owned, not tax-exempt)
- Condition 1
- No confirmed outstanding code violations
- Condition 2
- No tax delinquency
- Condition 3
- All alterations must conform to Secretary of Interior Standards
Summary
Santa Monica allows designated Landmarks, Structures of Merit, and contributing buildings in Historic Districts to enter into Mills Act historical property contracts with the City for property tax reductions, subject to three eligibility conditions.
F. Historical Property Contracts. Designated structures of merit, landmarks and contributing buildings or structures located in Historic Districts that are privately owned and not exempt from taxation shall be considered qualified historical properties eligible for historical property contracts submitted or entered into, pursuant to the provisions of Article 12, commencing with Section 50280, Chapter 1, Part 1, Division 1, Title 5, of the California Government Code. The City Council shall, by resolution approve a historical property contract with the owner of a qualified historical property, provided that:
1. The property has no confirmed and outstanding violations of this Code, or any other applicable Federal, State or local law, rule or regulation;
2. The property is not subject to a tax delinquency; and
3. All completed or ongoing alterations, construction or rehabilitation to designated buildings or structures located on the property conform to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the treatment of Historic Properties.
Full Breakdown
To qualify, the property must have no confirmed outstanding code violations, no tax delinquency, and all completed or ongoing alterations must conform to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for treatment of historic properties. The City Council approves each contract by resolution. The program is authorized under California Government Code § 50280 (the Mills Act). Additional City incentives for historic properties include priority Building Division plan check processing, building code flexibility, and waived architectural review and certificate fees.
Violations & Fines
Properties that fail to meet the three eligibility requirements, no code violations, no tax delinquency, and Secretary of Interior Standards compliance, are ineligible for a historical property contract. No specific penalty for non-compliance post-contract is stated in this section; contract terms are set by the City Council resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Mills Act contract do for a historic property owner?
Which Santa Monica properties qualify for a historical property contract?
What standards must renovations meet to stay eligible?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Monica
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Monica to another location·View the California historic preservation overview
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Mills Act Contracts in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle mills act contracts.