Mills Act Application
Thank you for your interest in the City of Santa Barbara’s Mills Act Program. In order for your property to be considered for a contract you must have a designated historic resource listed on any city, county, state or federal register. City designations are: Landmark, Structure of Merit, and contributor to a designated Historic District.
The City of Santa Barbara can accept up to eight (8) Mills Act contracts per year – six residential and two commercial, or up to eight residential if no commercial applications are submitted. Applications will be accepted during the months of January through June and must be submitted with a non-refundable application fee of $40. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The eight (8) contracts awarded will be ranked and selected using adopted eligibility criteria for the program. Some properties may not qualify due to the cap limits on the total assessed property valuation (currently 1.5 million). Once approved, a contract initiation fee of $400 will be due. All contracts are reviewed by the Historic landmarks Commission and referred to the Community Development Director for final approval.
A ten-year rehabilitation plan is required as part of the application and will be re-evaluated every five (5) years or as needed. Upon acceptance to the program your property will be subject to an initial inspection by the City’s Urban Historian to assist you in finalizing the rehabilitation plan. It is necessary that you submit the necessary photo documentation on the current condition of the property. You will be required to submit annual reports on completed project(s), along with copies of receipts and building permits where applicable. City staff may conduct property inspections at any time to ensure that proposed work has been completed per contract agreement and meets all applicable City standards.
This packet is designed to assist you in completing the Mills Act Application. If you have any questions please contact Jake Jacobus, Associate Planner/Urban Historian at (805) 564-5470.
This packet includes:
- Mills Act Fact Sheet
- Application Checklist
- Application
- Financial Analysis Information
- Ten-year Rehabilitation Plan Form
- Potential Project List
- Property Owner Annual Report
- Property Inspection Information
- Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
- City Mills Act Contract (sample)
- Q& A on State Mills Act Program