Historic Preservation
Historic Preservation
Landmarks, Points of Interst, and Historic Districts
The City has 89 designated Landmarks, 13 Points of Interest, and 3 Historic Districts.
The City's historic preservation regulations and more information on landmarks and points of interest can be found in Chapter 24.455 of the City?s Municipal Code.Information on historic districts can be found in Chapter 24.340.
What is a Historic Resource?
A Historic Resource is defined in Public Resources Code sections 5020.1(j) as "any object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which is historically or archaeologically signficant, or is significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, miliarty, or cultural annals of California."
Historic Resources under the California Environmental Quality Act include properties that are:
- Listed or determined eligible for listing in the California Register;
- Listed on a local register or identified in an historical resources survey;
- Meet the criteria for listing on the California Register or for listing in a local register; and
- Other resources not listed or determined to be eligible for listing in state or local register, or not included in an historical survey, but determined by the lead agency to be significant.
The Mills Act
The Mills Act is a self-directed, economic incentive program designed to provide private property owners the opportunity to actively participate in the restoration of their properties while receiving property tax relief.
If your property is listed on any official federal, state, county, or city register, including the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, California Historical Landmarks, State Points of Historical Interest, local landmarks, and local survey listings, you may qualify for property tax relief by pledging to rehabilitate and maintain the historical and architectural character of a property for at least a ten-year period.
Mills Act participants may realize a property tax savings of approximately 50% each year for newly improved or purchased older properties.
- California Office of Historic Preservation Mills Act Information Website
- Office of Historic Preservation Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program (pdf)
- Mills Act Agreement Application Form (pdf)
- Mills Act Contract Financial Analysis (pdf)
Historic Preservation Committee
The City?s Historic Preservation Committee provides recommendations concerning the designation of historic districts, landmarks, sites, natural configurations, buildings, structures, and points of interest significant to the heritage and development of the City.
Historic Preservation Efforts
Downtown Historic Resources Survey
California State Office of Historic Preservation Office workshop?February 26, 2008